Homework assignments will be due every other class period and will be posted to the course webpage. They must be turned in at the beginning of class. Solutions to the homework will also be posted to the course webpage. Please take the time to write up your solutions neatly and carefully! All homework assignments consisting of more than one page must be stapled. Your lowest two homework scores will be dropped.

Although there will certainly be some "computational" problems in the course, most of the homework involves writing proofs and/or detailed explanations. This means that there are often many correct answers. This also means that the clarity of exposition and the proper use of mathematical terminology are as vital to your solutions as having the correct idea. A major goal of this course is to learn how to express your mathematical ideas correctly and write convincing detailed proofs. Do not be alarmed if your homework has many comments about how to improve (nobody starts out as an expert).

Unless you have a serious emergency which you bring to my attention before a homework assignment is due, late homework will not be accepted. However, please feel free to take advantage of the fact that two homework scores are dropped to skip writing up a homework assignment if you have more pressing demands on your time.

You must cite other books or online sources if you use them to help solve a problem. If you enjoy working in groups, I encourage you to work with others in the class to solve the homework problems, but you must write on your homework the names of those with whom you worked. In all cases, your homework is to be written up independently in your own words. This means you can not write a communal solution and all copy it down, and you can not copy and paste a solution from somewhere else. In general, getting ideas from other people or sources is fine (so long as you do not read another solution), but you need to cite such assistance and then take those ideas and write the problem up on your own.