18.950/18.9501  Differential Geometry

Final grades and solutions released and my comments

Hi All,

I have just finished grading finals and assigning total grades. It is a great pleasure that you are all doing so well in this class, and I would like to thank you for taking this class and spending your time with me this semester.

I would like to emphasize the background materials related to our final exam. Each problem is a baby case or is related to some advanced topics in Differential Geometry:
Problem 1 is an example in "Conformal Geometry";
Problem 2 is about "Mean Curvature Flow";
Problem 3 is a special case of "Frankel's Theorem";
Problem 4 is a special case of "Bishop-Gromov volume comparison theorem";
Problem 5 and 6 are special cases of the "Fenchel's Theorem".

Enjoy your winter break!

best regards,
Xin

Announced on 16 December 2015  3:06  p.m. by Xin Zhou

Final exam coverage, practice exam, and office hours

Hi,

Our final exam will be hold on Tuesday, December 15th in our class room. I will made an exam for two hours; however, I will start the exam from 9:30 AM, and end at 12:00PM, to give you more time. The exam will cover materials until this week, i.e. the exponential maps. The topics will be mainly focused on what we learned after the midterm, but all the materials before the midterms may be used.

Please find in the materials section a practice exam with answers and hints. Our final will follow the framework of this practice exam.

Office hours will be by appointment, and I will be available on Friday, December 11 and Monday, December 14.

best, Xin

Announced on 06 December 2015  10:41  a.m. by Xin Zhou

Course plan next week (Dec 8 and 10th)

Hi All,

We are going to discuss the Bonnet's Theorem next week. As I need to give an academic talk on Tuesday, I will let my TA to do several preliminary discussions on Tuesday, and I will finish the proof of Bonnet's Theorem on Thursday--the last class.

There will be no fixed office hours, and office hours will be by appointment.

best, Xin

Announced on 04 December 2015  3:50  p.m. by Xin Zhou

Homework 9 due time issue

Hi All,

I am so sorry that I misunderstand the rule for the HW in the last week, and thanks for some of you to remind me. Actually, we have covered all the materials of HW9 until today, and I was meaning to give you more time on this Pset. In current situation, I decide to make HW9 as optional. However, the final will cover materials until today, which means that HW9 is a good preparation for the final. In fact, I will count HW9 for your HW score by taking an average with the previous Psets if you hand in, and in extreme case, I will count that as a reason to boost your grade. I will also post solutions for HW9 next week. Thanks for understanding!

best, Xin

Announced on 03 December 2015  11:12  a.m. by Xin Zhou

Office hour next week: Friday (Dec 4) 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Hi,

Sorry for this late notice. I am out of town, so I could not hold my office hour this Wednesday. Instead, I will hold my office hour on Friday.

best, Xin

Announced on 02 December 2015  1:16  a.m. by Xin Zhou