September 26, 2008 – 2:31 pm
As another academic year begins, I urge students in my LInear Algebra class and my Algebraic Number Theory class to make full use of this blog. You might start by going to the very first posts that were around late October of the previous year. As you move forward, you will get a sense of [...]
Acyr’s report 2 Alex’s report 2
Three students are in the midst of summer reading projects under my supervision, Acyr Locatelli, Alex Tao, and Nikhil Mehrotra. Acyr is reading Ideals, Varieties, Algorithms by Cox, Little, and O’Shea, a very nice introduction to computational algebraic geometry. Alex is reading Rational Points on Elliptic Curves by Silverman and Tate. This book deals with [...]
Dear Prof. Kim, with regard to the Non-Commutative Constructions in Arithmetic and Geometry workshop, please confirm the date and time since the e-mail says: time: 7-8 June. Also how formal is it. secondly, please recommend me some books for MATH 2201, something that is more elementary or explicitly explains whats in the course. i have [...]
In my previous post, I made a reference to the `global community.’ This is a concept I think about frequently and, given the composition of the student body at UCL, I can hardly be alone in my preoccupation with its complexities. Of course I haven’t the competence to discuss such issues in any depth. But [...]
Because I’ve recently begun posting links to conferences or seminars I go to, I thought I’d add a clarifying comment. The purpose of it, at least consciously, was not to show off that I’m a busy guy or something of that sort. It’s rather that for any serious mathematician, a complex web of obligations makes [...]
I realize that many of the replies I’ve given in recent weeks contain rather `tough’ advice. I apologize for the harsh atmosphere this may create. My main reason for doing this is that the exams are approaching, and I wish to conjure up some sense of tension that might help in the process of preparation, [...]
Hi Sir, This is a general question I have always wanted answered. If in an exam, you were asked to prove a particular theorem, how rigorous does it have to be in order to get full marks for that particular part of the question? The reason I am asking this is because often in exams [...]
Hi sir! I have a small concern…actually a big concern…. having taken 2 exams already for which new lecturers taught this year, I am completely shocked by the change in style of examination from last year to this year, i have read your blog regarding the style of your paper, but wanted to ask to [...]
Dear Sir, This may seem like a stupid question, but it has been bugging me for ages.. Is there a difference between me saying there are or there exist? Similarly, is suppose equivalent to let and if? Also, is hence equivalent to therefore, so, i.e. ? What I mean by “is there a difference” I [...]
