UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
MAT138H1 - INTRODUCTION TO PROOFS
FALL 2019
1. BRIEF OUTLINE:
This is a course specially designed to prepare students interested in taking some of our most demanding or
conceptually approached undergraduate courses like MAT137Y1, MAT157Y1, MAT237Y1, MAT240H1
and MAT257Y1. The course is also ideal for those who need to evolve from viewing and trying to learn
mathematics as a collection of tedious and complicated procedures, usually without proper comprehension,
to a more thoughtful, rational and enjoyable vision, including the understanding of some of its interesting
theoretical aspects. Nevertheless, this course could be very useful for anyone who just wants to have an
introductory outlook of how mathematics is thought, written and applied by those who do mathematics.
The initial part of this course presents some basics on Logic and Sets which are the essential structures upon
which the language of modern mathematics is built. The middle part deals mostly with a small selection of
important mathematical topics. The focus here will be on understanding and working with mathematical
definitions and properties, particularly with the types of arguments most commonly used in related proofs.
The last part of the course will provide students with more practice on reading and reasoning in mathematics,
understanding, finding and writing proofs and applying basic strategies for general problem solving.
Students taking this course are expected to have a solid background on high-school mathematics. There are
no other additional or specific prerequisites. According to its main goal, the course will not systematically
cover any particular mathematical content. Definitions, theorems, examples and exercises from selected
mathematical topics will mainly be used to illustrate and to practice relevant aspects of the course.
The main emphasis will be placed on helping to understand and to write proofs, to improve problem solving
skills, to enjoy the creative aspects of mathematics and to learn university mathematics more efficiently.
2. TEXTBOOK:
"MAT138H1: An Introduction to Proofs and Problem Solving. Custom Edition", by Steven Galovich and
Edward R. Scheinerman.
3. LECTURES AND TUTORIALS:
SECTION DAY / TIME ROOM INSTRUCTOR
M / 4-5
LEC0101 GB120 F. Recio
F / 2-4
TUT0101 M / 3-4 BA1170 J. Lackman
TUT0201 F / 4-5 BA2185 N. Libman

Classes begin on September 6, tutorials begin on September 9 and both end on December 2. A makeup
Monday class and tutorial, if needed, may be held on December 5. The final exam period is from December
7 to 20. Lectures will loosely follow the textbook. Some additional materials will be distributed in class.
Students are responsible for studying the textbook sections and other materials as they are covered and for
doing the homework assigned during the lectures and tutorials. Working with the course material on a daily
basis will be essential to secure a better understanding of the lectures and to prepare for quizzes and tests.
4. MARKING SCHEME:
The course mark CM is based on the term mark TM and the final exam mark FE, all of them out of 100.
The best 3 out of 4 quizzes will count for 30% of the term mark TM and the best 2 out of 3 problem sets
will count for 20% of the TM. The midterm-test will count for the other 50% of the term mark TM.
The course mark will be computed using the formula: CM = 0.6 × max{𝐅𝐅𝐅𝐅 , 𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓} + 0.4 × min{𝐅𝐅𝐅𝐅 , 𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓}.
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5. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

WEEK EVENTS TOPICS

Lectures start.
Sep 6
PS#1 posted.
Sep 9 & 13 Tutorials start (Sept. 9).
Sep 16 & 20 Q#1 (Sept. 20, 3:30 pm).
PS#1 due (Sept. 27, 2:10 pm).
Sep 23 & 27
PS#2 posted.
Sep 30 & Oct 4 Q#2 (Oct. 4, 3:30 pm).
Oct 7 & 11
Thanksgiving holiday (Oct. 14).
Oct 14 & 18
TT (Oct. 18, 2:10 pm).
PS#2 due (Oct. 25, 2:10 pm).
Oct 21 & 25
PS#3 posted.
Oct 28 & Nov 1 Q#3 (Nov. 1, 3:30 pm).
Nov 4 & 8 Fall reading week.
Nov 11 & 15
Nov 18 & 22 Q#4 (Nov. 22, 3:30 pm).
Nov 25 & 29 PS#3 due (Nov. 29, 2:10 pm).
Dec 2 Lectures and tutorials end.
Dec 5 Make-up class (if needed).
Course introduction. Basics on problem solving.
Propositional calculus, useful notions and notations.
More on propositional calculus.
The language of sets, representations and operations.
More on sets. Basics on proofs.
More on related proofs and problem solving.
Selected topics on relations and functions.
More on related proofs and problem solving. Review.
Term test.
Working with new definitions and properties.
Selected topics on number theory.
More on related proofs and problem solving.
No classes.
Basics on cardinality.
Doing mathematics.
More on related proofs and problem solving.
Practice and review.
Practice and review.

6. IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. The University of Toronto is committed to accessibility. Students with diverse learning styles and needs
are welcome in this course. Please feel free to approach your instructor or Accessibility Services for any
additional assistance that you may require in order to achieve academic success in this course. If you think
that you may need personal accommodations for some of the course assessments, then you should register
at http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/as/register-accommodation.
2. Students who miss a quiz, a problem set or the midterm-test for reasons beyond their control may submit
to the instructors, no later than one week after the missed event’s date, a request for special consideration
explaining the reasons for missing the event. The request should include all the appropriate documents.
Students missing a course assessment due to a health related issue should submit a completed and signed
Verification of Illness or Injury Form, available at http://www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca/index.php.
3. The University of Toronto treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously. For example, Problem Sets
are to be written and submitted individually. Plagiarism in this or any other related context is a violation
of the course’s academic integrity and consequently treated as an academic offense. Students are expected
to know the rules for academic behavior at the University of Toronto, stated on the Code of Behavior on
Academic Matters, available at http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm.
4. Any changes to the "Important Dates and Tentative Schedule" plan will be announced in advance during
the lectures and tutorials.