Math 7550: Differential Geometry

Homework Assignments:

Course Content:

The following is a collection of topics that I hope to cover in this course.

  • Intro to smooth manifolds
  • Tangent vectors and tangent bundles
  • Vector bundles and tensors
  • Vector fields
  • Integral manifolds and the Frobenius theorem
  • Differential forms and integration
  • de Rham cohomology
  • Lie groups and homogeneous spaces

Text: We won’t follow one book exclusively, but Michael Spivak’s A Comprehensive Introduction to Differential Geometry I is the best single resource for this course. Other fantastic resources include Guillemin & Pollack’s Differential Topology, Bott and Tu’s Differential Forms in Algebraic Topology and Warner’s Foundations of Differentiable Manifolds and Lie Groups.

Logistics:

Classroom:  Lockett 232 (or Zoom)
Time:  10:30 – 11:50
Office Hours:  By appointment

Homework and Grades:

Homework Policy: Homework is to be scanned and turned in via email by 4:00 PM on its due date.  If you know in advance you will be unable to turn in homework when it’s due, you should plan to turn it in ahead of time.

Homework must be neat, well-organized, and legible. If your handwriting is difficult to read, type your homework. If you tend to scratch out or erase incorrect parts of solutions, do a rough draft or type your homework. Write in paragraphs, sentences, and English words. Use punctuation and conjunctions to indicate your flow of thought rather than arrows or telepathy. Shoot for lucidity rather than terseness.

Final Course Grades: Your grade will be determined by your performance on homework assignments and your overall classroom engagement:

  • Homework problems 50%
  • Midterm problems 20%
  • Final exam 30%

Academic Dishonesty: While copying your written work from somebody else or from any other source is considered cheating, you are strongly encouraged to talk to others about the material you are learning — this includes fellow students, me and anyone else in the department.  The more engaged you are with the material the better. That said, the work you hand in must be your own. The best way to avoid any suspicion of copying is to write out your homework solutions on your own, not whilst working with a friend. Cheating on exams is unacceptable. Any cheating during midterms or finals will result in you failing the exam.

Disability Support: Students who may need accommodations because of a documented disability should meet with me privately within the first week of classes. In addition, students with disabilities should also contact the Office of Disability Services.