Metric Spaces

Subject 620-311 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbookSearch for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Undergraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 36 lectures (three per week) and up to 12 practice classes (one per week)
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours.
Prerequisites: 620-221. Students who have achieved a grade of H1 in 620-252 will be permitted to enrol in this subject on completion of specified reading over summer.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

Prof H Rubinstein
Subject Overview:

This subject introduces the generalised distance between elements of an abstract set, including sets of functions. It also introduces the notion of a general topological space, and the generation of such space from a metric space and from other structures. It emphasises the significance of completeness of a metric space and of the concepts of compactness and connectedness. Students should develop the ability to apply abstract methods of topology to obtain deeper results about real and complex numbers and Euclidean spaces, and to apply metric space methods to the approximate solution of linear equations, and differential equations by Picard's method. They learn to distinguish between pointwise and uniform convergence from the viewpoint of topology, and to understand the difference between topological and metric properties of topological spaces. This subject demonstrates the power of abstract topological concepts as applied to Euclidean spaces, to concrete spaces of functions, and to the approximate solution of equations. It also develops an appreciation of the rigorously presented concepts of convergence and continuity, the use of topology in the modern treatment of numerical mathematics, differential and integral equations, optimisation, logic and computing.

Topics include the concept of a metric and of the induced topology; open and closed sets; convergence and completeness; the contraction mapping theorem; continuity, uniform continuity and homeomorphism; compactness; connectedness; and applications.

Assessment: Up to 24 pages of written assignments due during the semester (20%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (80%).
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options: This subject is a level 2 or level 3 subject and is not available to new generation degree students as a breadth option in 2008.
This subject or an equivalent will be available as breadth in the future.
Breadth subjects are currently being developed and these existing subject details can be used as guide to the type of options that might be available.
2009 subjects to be offered as breadth will be finalised before re-enrolment for 2009 starts in early October.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Notes: This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 degree only), BASc or a combined BSc course.
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Science

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