Due April 12th	Homework 1	Solution
Due April 19th	Homework 2	Solution
Due April 26th	Homework 3 TeX file of the homework	Solution
Due May 5th	Homework 4	Solution
Due May 17th	Homework 5	Solution
Due May 24th	Homework 6	Solution
Midterm	Solutions
Due May 31st	Homework 7	Solution

Writing in Major assignment information.

WIM assignment info: Draft due Friday, May 12th final version due June 2nd.

The WIM Assignment is to write an exposition of a topic related to group theory. The target audience is someone at a similar stage in a similar class. The length of the exposition should be around five pages.
Although an "official" draft is due June 2nd, I encourage you to seek feedback -- either from myself, the CA, or from your classmates -- earlier than that.

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Topics

Recommended topic: symmetry groups of the Platonic solids, with emphasis on the case of the icosahedron. Your goal is to describe, with proof, the symmetry groups of the five Platonic solids. This is discussed in Chapter 8 of Armstrong, and you should flesh out the discussion there.

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How to write it

When writing a work of mathematical exposition, you are striving for a mix of precision and informality. That is to say: you need to informally communicate the main ideas, while, at the same time, giving precise proofs.

More practically:

1. Introduction: Start with a general description of the topic, and in particular the mathematical problems that you will discuss. You should say why you think it is interesting, and what the main ideas involved are. It's often good to state the central theorem(s) that you will prove precisely.

   You should do this with a minimum of technical jargon. Choose very carefully what to include and what not to include: if the reader stopped reading at this point, would they have understood the essential points?

2. In the body of the text, solve the problems that you've raised in the introduction. For example, if you stated a Theorem in the introduction, prove it here.

   This part should be as self-contained as possible, so as to be accessible to (e.g.) someone at a similar stage in a similar class, but not necessarily using exactly the same text. Thus "by a theorem from class" is not a useful way of describing a result; state the result precisely, and give a reference.

3. Conclude by summarizing some important points and (if possible) explaining some interesting problems that are related to your paper.

Finally: Proof-read! (Better, have somebody else proof-read.) I find it helpful to read my writing out loud to myself. Check for undefined symbols and notation as well as mathematical correctnesss. Also check for clear English: write in complete sentences, and do not use symbols for "implies, there exists, for all," etc.: write them out.

I'm very happy to discuss anything related to this. I am also happy to look at your drafts and give some comments. Don't hesitate to email me with questions or drafts; I will send back some quick comments.

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