Math 418, Spring 2014
Time/place: MWF 12-12:50 p.m. in Engineering E205
Course website: www.math.colostate.edu/∼bates/courses/S14/418
Text: There is no book for this course. I will use a variety of books, notes, and web resources.
If you miss class, be sure to get a copy of the notes from a classmate or from me.
Instructor info: Prof. Dan Bates, bates@math.colostate.edu, Weber 120 (1-1037)
Office hours for 418: By appointment; just email me to set one up.
Prerequisites: Math 417.
Topics to be covered: According to the course catalog, we need to cover line and surface
integrals, series and sequences of functions. I will hit each of these topics fairly rapidly,
followed by a number of topics that will each take between a day and a couple weeks.
Structure of the class: Most of the time, I will lecture. I welcome your questions or
comments at any time! The only exception is that each of you will teach for about 20-30
minutes near the end of the semester.
Grading: For this course, you will write two papers (details later) and give a 20-30 minute
talk. There will also be a bit of homework here and there. The final grade will be 30% for
each of the two papers, 30% for the talk (think of this as the final), and 10% for homework.
About those papers: Let’s talk together about the structure. I am thinking of a shorter
(3-5 page) paper on something theoretical, including at least one serious proof, and a longer
(7-10 page) paper on an application that in some way uses analysis. The shorter paper will
probably due mid-semester; the longer will be due near the end. The talk should be about
the longer paper.
Feedback: I am always happy to hear it, even if it is negative.
Final Note: You should know that I have insulin-dependent diabetes and may therefore
need to sit down and take it easy occasionally. There is also the very slight risk that I
could have very low blood sugar at some point, causing me to pass out. If that happens
(the probability of this is very low), I will need somebody to call 911. Please don’t worry: I
haven’t passed out yet and don’t intend to! Even if I do pass out, I am not in any significant
danger.