Classical Tessellations and 3-Manifolds Spring 2014

Topics in Geometry; Math 24100

Instructor: Danny Calegari

MWF 12:30-1:20; Pick 22

Description of course:

This course explores the symmetries of classical tessellations --- e.g. wallpaper patterns, friezes, crystals, especially in 2 dimensions --- and their connections to group theory and topology, especially the topology of 3-dimensional manifolds.

(Note: because of a lack of time, we never got to 3-manifolds, so the course concentrated on the connections between groups, geometry and topology in 2 dimensions)

Cancellations:

None yet.

Notices:

Mathematics Department policy says that I should opt out of the online evaluation process, relying instead on paper evaluations. I plan to comply with this policy; when paper evaluation forms are available (some time in the 9th week) I will distribute them to you in class.

Homework/Midterm/Final:

There will be a midterm and a final. There will also be weekly homework. Homework is posted to this website each Friday and is due at the start of class the following Friday. Late homework will not be accepted.

Syllabus:

The skeleton of the syllabus is the following.

Notes from class and downloads:

References:

The textbook for the class is: Bill Casselman's online copy of Mathematical Illustrations, an introduction to programming in postscript, is here.