MS 411 - Complex Analysis

Professor: Erich Friedman

About the course:

We will meet MWF at 9:00 in Elizabeth 318. This course will cover material from chapters 1-7 of the text, the third edition of Fundamentals of Complex Analysis by Saff and Snider. Topics of the course include complex numbers, complex functions, differentiation and integration of complex functions, series expansions of complex functions, transformations of regions in the complex plane, and two applications: solving hard integrals of real functions, and solving steady state problems in physics. We will be generalizing what you know about the calculus of real functions to complex functions. The results are similar but are sometimes surprising.

About me:

My e-mail address is efriedma@stetson.edu. My web page can be found at http://www.stetson.edu/~efriedma/. My office phone is x7552. My office hours this semester are:

About you:

You should have credit for MS203 Multivariable Calculus and MS255 Logic and Proof. You should remember the fundamental theorems from calculus, how to find limits, how to take derivatives and integrals, and how to structure and do simple proofs.

About respect:

You should come to class on time and not socialize in class. In addition, it is rude to have a cell phone go off in class. If one does, for any reason, it is mine for the rest of the day.

About calculations versus proofs:

Exactly half your grade will be determined by calculations and half by proofs. Since the graded homework is 100% proofs, the quizzes and tests will average 35% proofs (more at the beginning and less later). Most of the proofs in the course are calculational in nature, though some are more subtle. Half of the proofs are on the homework, allowing you lots of time to think about them, and try them repeatedly.

About your grade:

Calculational Homework, given on the syllabus, will not be collected or graded. We will spend the first part of every class period answering questions on this part of the homework. Make sure you ask about homework problems that you are unable to do. If I don't have time in class, please see me outside of class. You are welcome to work together on this part of the homework, but make sure you can do it by yourself on the quizzes and tests.

Proof Homework, given on the syllabus, will be collected and graded. You are not allowed to work together on these proofs. Talking about or copying homework is a violation of Stetson's honor code. These problems can be submitted as many times as necessary to get them correct, though problems must be submitted before the test on that material. Each problem should be submitted separately on its own piece of paper. Each of the 100 homework problems is worth 2 points, so altogether homework is worth 2/9 of your grade.

Quizzes will be given every few weeks, as indicated on the syllabus. They will cover only the most recent material, and will be about half the period. They are mostly for your feedback. If you are doing poorly on the quizzes, this should serve as a warning that you do not know the material as well as I want you to. Do something about it before the test! Each quiz is worth 33 points, so altogether the quizzes are worth 2/9 of your grade.

Tests will be given after chapters 2, 4, and 7, as indicated on the syllabus. They will cover the material since the last test, and will take the entire period. Each test is worth 100 points, so altogether the tests are worth 3/9 of your grade.

The Oral Final Exam will be 90 minutes long, and should be scheduled for some time during finals week. You should be prepared to work problems, give proofs, or explain concepts from this course. The final will be comprehensive, and will be worth 200 points, or 2/9 of your grade.