Math 447, Autumn, 2011

Prof. N. Childress

PSA 433, 965-6504

Messages: 965-3951

nc@asu.edu

 

The book Introduction to Cryptography with Coding Theory by Trappe and Washington is the required text for this course. Topic numbers in the following calendar refer to section numbers in the text. Check back for updates as the semester progresses.

 

Course Calendar of Topics by Week:

 

 

August

18

 

2.1, 2.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30

 

2.3, 2.4, 3.4

 

 

 

 

 

September

6

 

2.6, 3.8, 3.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

 

3.8, 2.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

 

3.5, 3.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

3.12, 6.1

 

 

 

 

Exam 1 is on 27 September

October

4

 

6.1, 6.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

6.3, 6.4.0, 7.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

 

7.4, 7.5, 3.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

3.10

 

 

 

 

Exam 2 is on 27 October

November

1

 

7.2, 3.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

3.11, 5.1, 5.2

 

 

 

 

VeteranŐs Day is on 11 November

 

15

 

5.1--5.3, 10.1--10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

9.1, 9.2, 9.3

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Day is on 24 November

 

29

 

9.4, 8.1—8.4

 

 

 

 

December

6

 

2.11

 

 

 

 

Last day of class is on 6 December

 

 

 

Course work:

Homework assignments will be announced online or in class. These will be collected at the beginning of class. Once you are seated and class is underway, your homework will not be accepted. If you cannot attend class on a day when homework is due, you must arrange with me to submit it early (either a physical or electronic copy). Except in a documented emergency, you may not submit an assignment outside of class without first arranging with me to do so. Late homework will not be accepted. You are encouraged to discuss the homework problems with other students, but you must write your own solutions to those that are collected. Quizzes (if any) may or may not be announced. No make-up quizzes will be given.

 

This course has both computational and theoretical components; this means that you will be doing some computer programming and you also will be writing proofs. You must show complete solutions, written legibly, to receive credit for a question. All steps and calculations must be justified. Answers to computer exercises must include a copy of the code (Mathematica only!) used. As a student in this class, you have free access to the ECA 221 computer lab open hours, where someone can help you with Mathematica. This semester, their open hours are MW 4:30 -- 10:00 p.m. and TuTh 5:30 -- 10:00 p.m.

 

Excellent attendance and pertinent contributions to class discussions can favorably affect your grade. Your ringing cell phone can adversely affect it.

 

 

Exams:

Midterm examinations will be given in the testing center on tentative dates shown above. A comprehensive final examination will be given on the date published in the ASU final exam schedule. You are responsible for assigned material whether or not it is discussed in class. You are responsible for material discussed in class whether or not it is in the text. As with all work, you must show complete solutions (all steps and calculations), written legibly, to receive credit for a question. Scratch paper will be provided on request; you may not use your own. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off and put away during exams. You must bring your ASU Suncard with you to all exams, and must sign your paper in ink at the beginning of each exam.

 

Cases of academic dishonesty will be prosecuted to the fullest possible extent. You are strongly encouraged to review the ASU website for details on policy and procedures regarding academic integrity, including a section on student obligations.

 

If you must miss an exam due to illness or other reasonable excuse, notify me as soon as possible. You must notify me in as timely a manner as is reasonable in order to have an opportunity to take a make-up. If you cannot reach me personally, a message (965-3951) indicating your name, the reason for your absence, and the time of your call is usually sufficient. I reserve the right to require a medical excuse or other documentation, where applicable. You are encouraged to arrive on time for exams. If you do not attend the exam, and have not been excused, you may not have the opportunity to take a make-up.

 

Course grade:

A course grade of incomplete will be given only in the most compelling non-academic circumstance, which must be approved by me no later than 24 hours before the final examination time. You must have completed the majority of the coursework, and be passing the course at the time the incomplete is requested. Exam scores and course grades will not be discussed over the phone or by e-mail as this is a violation of confidentiality regulations. Your overall score in the course will be computed according the following weights.

Homework & quizzes

 

25%

Midterm exams (2 @ 20%)

 

40%

Final exam

 

35%

Your grade for the course will be based on the following cutoffs. Plus/minus grades will correspond to extremes within grade ranges.

A    

 

87%

B     

 

75%

C     

 

63%

D     

 

50%

 

This syllabus is subject to change or revision; announcements made in class or online are considered addenda to the syllabus.