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Year:

PMTH331 Introduction to Topology

Updated: 11 December 2012
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
20 February 2013 23 February 2013 Non-Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites 12cp from PMTH212 or PMTH213 or AMTH250 or MATH260 or STAT261 or candidature in a postgraduate award in the School of Environmental and Rural Science or School of Science and Technology
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Imre Bokor (imi@turing.une.edu.au)
Unit Description

Topology is sometimes referred to as 'rubber-sheet geometry'. It studies continuity in its broadest context. We begin by analysing the notion of continuity familiar from calculus, showing that it depends on being able to measure distance between points in Euclidean space. This leads to the more general notion of a metric space. While metric spaces have many important applications, we see that they do not provide the most suitable context for studying continuity. A deeper analysis of continuity in metric spaces leads us to generalise the topological spaces, which provide the broadest setting for continuity.The central concepts of topology, compactness and connectedness, are introduced and applied to prove such central results in mathematics as the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, the Extreme Value Theorem, the Intermediate Value Theorem. These show the relationship between modern advanced mathematics and the senior school mathematics curriculum. Applications of topology to number theory, algebraic geometry and functional analysis are featured.Since metric spaces are important in geometric contexts, these concepts are applied to them, and the notion of completeness is introduced. The Banach Fixed Point Theorem, important for differential equations and Newton's Method is also proved.The presentation follows modern developments and, in addition this unit provides the basis for studying differential geometry, functional analysis, classical and quantum mechanics, dynamical systems, algebraic and differential topology. This unit is essential for students wishing to continue to honours or post-graduate mathematics.

Referenced Material
Optional
Text(s):

Note: Reference material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Introduction to Topology
ISBN: 9780486663524
Mendelson, B., Dover Publications 3rd ed. 2009
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Introduction to Topology and Modern Analysis
ISBN: 9781575242385
Simmons, G.F., McGraw-Hill
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 40%
Assessment Notes
Six written problem-based assignments.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3 GA: 1, 2, 6
Final Examination 3 hrs 60%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3 GA: 1, 2, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. recognise and apply abstract properties of functions and mappings (such as continuity) to a range of specific examples;
  2. recognise and apply the abstract concepts of metric spaces to a range of examples, and will be aware of their specific role in other areas of mathematics;
  3. test the properties of compactness and completeness in a variety of topological spaces, and will identify their relationship to important problems in analysis and geometry.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge gained by the student in lectures will be applied in collaboration with the lecturer to problems and examples in tutorials. The student will then map this experience onto further problem-solving tasks in assignments, where the identification of central concepts in the discipline, and the student's ability to articulate them, will be assessed.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
The student will be encouraged to participate actively in discussion during lectures and tutorials. Written communication skills, particularly with regard to construction and presentation of logical expositions and arguments, will be taught and assessed.
True True True
4 Information Literacy
The student will be guided in the use of online resources, library and internet access to recommended references, particularly in conjunction with assignment tasks.
True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The student will discover the breadth of the discipline through this introductory unit and will become aware of its ongoing development as a field of higher degree research.
True True
6 Problem Solving
The student will encounter in this unit a field of knowledge that is intensely problem-based, and will acquire skill in connecting ideas within a network of logical relationships. A high emphasis will be placed on the development of analytical and deductive reasoning.
True True True
8 Team Work
The student will be encouraged to participate in interactive discussion with other students regarding ideas and problems addressed in the unit. Written assignment submissions must be the student's own work, but may be the outcome of group discussion.
True True
   

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