A Proposal
Jan. 13th, 2006 01:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoutfellowAs I mentioned earlier, this semester I'm teaching a course on differential geometry. Now, close study of the subject involves the student in a lot of gritty and unpleasant computations. Still, there's stuff in there that can be described qualitatively, and I think some of it is rather interesting.
So here's what I'm thinking. If there's any interest, I'll compose a few posts touching on some highlights of the subject. It'll be strictly 19th-century material, and early 19th-century at that; the subject exploded once people like Riemann and Poincaré got their hands on it, and I really don't want to get into that. I'll discuss it qualitatively as far as possible, and I'll try to make that material self-contained, but I'll also include (for those who feel up to it) a few details to make precise what I'm talking about. Following the details will involve some calculus; those who aren't interested can skip them. (I'll set them off from the main text somehow, probably by blockquoting.)
Any takers?
So here's what I'm thinking. If there's any interest, I'll compose a few posts touching on some highlights of the subject. It'll be strictly 19th-century material, and early 19th-century at that; the subject exploded once people like Riemann and Poincaré got their hands on it, and I really don't want to get into that. I'll discuss it qualitatively as far as possible, and I'll try to make that material self-contained, but I'll also include (for those who feel up to it) a few details to make precise what I'm talking about. Following the details will involve some calculus; those who aren't interested can skip them. (I'll set them off from the main text somehow, probably by blockquoting.)
Any takers?
