Goldschmidt, David M., Lectures on Character Theory, Publish or Perish Press, Berkeley, 1980.

McDonough, T.P., "On Jordan groups," Journal of the London Mathematical Society, 6(1972), pp. 73-80.

Presley, Elvis, private communication, Feb. 14, 1995.

You may be required to revise your written report before it is accepted. To avoid this, have a classmate (or two) check it for clarity.

Oral presentations probably will be 20-30 minutes long. Presenters may use the chalkboard and/or overhead projection of transparencies and/or overhead projection of a computer screen. (See me about the latter two prior to your talk.)

Each other student is responsible for asking at least one question during or after each presentation. Since the presentation is at least partially intended to provide a review of certain calculus and linear algebra topics, presenters should be prepared to answer questions about the mathematics they use.

Your responses should convince me that you have read the material. The assignment may be handwritten, and is due at our first meeting after the comprehensive examination.

Many people who have never had occasion to learn what mathematics is confuse it with arithmetic and consider it a dry and arid science. In actual fact it is the science which demands the utmost imagination. One of the foremost mathematicians of our century says very justly that it is impossible to be a mathematician without also being a poet in spirit. . . . It seems to me that the poet must see what others do not see, must see more deeply than other people. And the mathematician must do the same. - Sofya Kovalevskaya, 1890


Read the essay, "Mathematics as a Creative Art," by Paul Halmos, then write a brief, but thoughtful reaction to it. One or two pages should be enough. (If you're stumped, you might answer one or both of the questions, "Is mathematics an art or a science?" and "Are you a mathologist or a mathophysicist?") Your reaction should convince me that you have read the material, but need not (and should not) summarize it. The assignment may be handwritten, and is due Thursday, April 1.