Math 5523
Theory of Functions of a Complex Variable I
Fall 2022

Information on this syllabus is subject to change. Any updates will be posted to this site. In particular, any required changes in course delivery, such as transition to remote delivery only, may necessitate significant modifications to this syllabus.

Instructor: Ariel Barton

Contact information:
Email: aeb019@uark.edu.
Office: SCEN 348.
Email will be reviewed within one business day.

Class time and location: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 2:00–2:50 p.m., August 22–December 7, 2022, Mechanical Engineering 216.

Office hours: Office hours will be held in SCEN 348 or over Zoom.

These office hours are on a drop in basis; at these times, you do not need an appointment.

If the selected times do not work for you, or if you wish to speak to me privately, please email me and we will schedule an appointment at another time.

Course Description: Complex numbers, analytic functions, power series, complex integration, Cauchy's Theorem and integral formula, maximum principle, singularities, Laurent series, and Mobius maps.

Prerequisites: MATH 4513 or MATH 5213.

Textbook: Function Theory of One Complex Variable, third edition, by Robert E. Greene and Steven G. Krantz, ISBN 978-0-8218-3962-1.

Remote/hybrid delivery: All students are expected to turn in homework electronically via Blackboard. Exams will be take-home exams and may be turned in the same way as the homework.

Recording of Class Lectures: Students are allowed to record class and office hours. By attending this class, the student understands the course is being recorded and consents to being recorded for official university educational purposes. Be aware that incidental recording may also occur before and after official class times. Recordings may include personally-identifiable comments submitted to the chat stream during class.

Inquiry-based learning: Students will be supplied with a list of lecture problems (PDF or HTML). This list of problems constitutes the notes for this course. Written homework assignments will be posted to Blackboard.

Students may choose to either present solutions to lecture problems during class, or to turn in written homework assignments.

Specifically, a student who presents a complete solution at the board during class will be granted 2–24 presentation points (depending on the problem and on originality of their solution). Students may view their remaining presentation points on Blackboard.

If a student does not turn in a written assignment or turns in an assignment with fewer than 3 problems worked, and has remaining presentation points to spend, then 12 presentation points will be deducted per unworked problem and the assignment score will be recorded as though the student had received full credit on the missing problem or problems.

Homework: Homework assignments will be posted to Blackboard. You may work together on the homework assignments, but each student must write up their work in their own words and submit their own work for grading. Graded homework will be returned via email.

Homework formatting: Homework submission is generally required to follow the following rules. If you feel that they place an undue burden on you (for example, if you do not own a computer), talk to me and we will arrange an exception or accommodation.

Exams: There will be two midterm tests and a (comprehensive) final exam. The exams will be open book, open note, take home exams. However, you may not discuss the exams in any way with any person other than Professor Barton between the time when you receive the exam and its due date. I will not give hints, suggestions, or guidance on the exams once you have received the exam questions, except in the event of a mistake made in writing the exam.

We will cancel one class for each exam to allow you time to take the midterm exams. The exam will be posted to Blackboard by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the previous class. The final exam will be due at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 12.

Make-up exams: Make-up exam requests also require written documentation as to your conflict. Except in the case of medical or other unforeseen emergencies, make-up exam requests must be made at least one week before the exam is to be held (two weeks before the final). Make-up exams are at the instructor's discretion; if you do not provide a documented reason why you cannot take the exam at the usual time, if your reason is considered inadequate, or if your request for a make-up exam is not made in a timely fashion, I reserve the right to refuse a make-up exam or to assess a late penalty (deduction from your score).

Course grade: Here is how I plan to weigh your grades:

Homework 50%
Midterm Exams 15% each
Final 20%

Important dates

DateEvent
Monday, Aug. 22First day of class
Friday, Aug. 26Last day to add a course
Friday, Sep. 2Last day to drop a course
Monday, Sep. 5Labor day—no class
Monday, Oct. 17Fall break
Friday, Nov. 18 Last day to withdraw from a course. If you would like to estimate your likely course grade, here is a grade estimation worksheet.
Nov. 23–25Thanksgiving break
Wednesday, Dec. 7Last day of class
Monday, Dec. 12 Final exam due. Good luck!

Classroom Etiquette: Students and instructors each have an important role in maintaining a classroom environment optimal for learning, and are expected to treat each other with respect during class, using thoughtful dialogue, and keeping disruptive behaviors to a minimum. Both students and faculty perceive abusive language directed towards others as the most disruptive behavior. Other behaviors that can be disruptive of in person classes are chatting and whispering during class, the use of smartphones or laptops for texting or in other ways unrelated to the course, preparing to leave before class is over, and consistently arriving late to class. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom may result in a request to leave the class and/or a referral to the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct.

Academic honesty: Academic dishonesty on any exam, quiz, or other graded item will result in a score of zero that cannot be dropped or replaced. Suspected cases of academic dishonesty are referred to the All-University Academic Integrity Board. The following passage is quoted from honesty.uark.edu and is the policy in this course:

As a core part of its mission, the University of Arkansas provides students with the opportunity to further their educational goals through programs of study and research in an environment that promotes freedom of inquiry and academic responsibility. Accomplishing this mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and individual integrity prevail.

Each University of Arkansas student is required to be familiar with and abide by the University’s ‘Academic Integrity Policy’ which may be found at https://honesty.uark.edu/policy/index.php. Students with questions about how these policies apply to a particular course or assignment should immediately contact their instructor.

Electronic devices: Cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices may be used in class. The expectation is that these devices will be used for taking notes, routine calculations (i.e., calculator apps), accessing course materials, and other course-related uses only. Please do not text or play games in class!

Inclement weather policy: Class will meet unless the University is closed. On-campus students are expected to be present. Off-campus students should make their own decisions in the best interest of personal safety. Off-campus students will not be penalized for being absent on those days the Fayetteville Public Schools are closed due to weather. If attendance is severely affected by weather, deadlines and exam dates may be adjusted. Please do not call the Department of Mathematical Sciences with weather-related inquiries. You may contact me for information.

Accommodations: Under University policy and federal and state law, students with documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations to ensure the student has an equal opportunity to perform in class. If any member of the class has such a disability and needs special academic accommodations, please report to the Center for Educational Access (CEA). Reasonable accommodations may be arranged after the CEA has verified your disability.

All accommodations requested by the Center for Educational Access will be fulfilled to the best of the instructor’s ability. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss the implementation of the accommodations with the instructor, either in person or via email. In particular, accommodations to testing must be discussed at least one week before the date of the exam (two weeks before the final).

Certain accommodations (such as extra time on exams) will be granted only at the CEA’s request. Some accommodations must be fulfilled using the CEA's resources. Other accommodations are available to any student who makes the request in a timely fashion. Please consult with your instructor in all such cases.

Communication: The best way to communicate with me (beyond coming to my office hours) is by email. You can expect a reply within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. Students are expected to monitor their uark email address regularly and consult the course Blackboard site for important announcements.

Intellectual Property: Notes, review material, exams, quizzes, videos or other learning material used in this class are the intellectual property of the instructor. Selling or freely sharing this content in electronic or written form is a violation of intellectual property rights and also constitutes a violation of the University’s academic integrity policy. Your continued enrollment in this class signifies your understanding of and your intent to abide by this policy. There are severe consequences for sharing class content online.

Emergency Procedures: Many types of emergencies can occur on campus; instructions for specific emergencies such as severe weather, active shooter, or fire can be found at https://safety.uark.edu/emergency-preparedness/

Health and wellness: https://catalog.uark.edu/generalinfo/studentaffairs/#healthcentertext

Disclaimer: Syllabus is subject to change. You will be notified of any changes.

Grade Disputes: The instructor is committed to keeping students informed of their standing in the class. Scores on all graded items will be posted in a timely manner. Students are expected to bring any possible errors to the attention of the instructor within one week of posting. This maintains an accurate grade record throughout the semester. All scores posted before Dead Day will be deemed accurate unless a possible error is brought to the attention of the instructor before the scheduled final exam.

Incompletes: Only given in extreme circumstances, and only when the student has satisfactorily completed all but a small portion of the work in the course. Students must make prior arrangements with the professor well before the end of the semester.