Outline

Overview

Topology, developed at the end of the 19th Century to investigate the subtle interaction of analysis and geometry, is now one of the basic disciplines of mathematics. A working knowledge of the language and concepts of topology is essential in fields as diverse as algebraic number theory and non-linear analysis. This unit develops the basic ideas of topology using the example of metric spaces to illustrate and motivate the general theory. Topics covered include: Metric spaces, convergence, completeness and the Contraction Mapping Theorem; Metric topology, open and closed subsets; Topological spaces, subspaces, product spaces; Continuous mappings and homeomorphisms; Compactness Connectedness Hausdorff spaces and normal spaces. You will learn methods and techniques of proving basic theorems in point-set topology and apply them to other areas of mathematics including basic Hilbert space theory and abstract Fourier series. By doing this unit you will develop solid foundations in the more formal aspects of topology, including knowledge of abstract concepts and how to apply them. Applications include the use of the Contraction Mapping Theorem to solve integral and differential equations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	MATH3961
Academic unit	Mathematics and Statistics Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	MATH4061
Prerequisites ?	A mark of 65 or greater in 12 credit points of 2000-level Mathematics units
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Real analysis and vector spaces. For example (MATH2922 or MATH2961) and (MATH2923 or MATH2962)
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Daniel Daners, daniel.daners@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Daniel Daners, daniel.daners@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home short release)	Final take-home exam Written responses including mathematical arguments.	60%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1 Written work	12.5%	Week 05 Due date: 25 Mar 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 04 Apr 2022	Two weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz Written responses including mathematical arguments.	15%	Week 08 Due date: 13 Apr 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 13 Apr 2022	50 Minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2 Written work	12.5%	Week 11 Due date: 13 May 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 23 May 2022	Two weeks
Outcomes assessed:
= Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Assignments: There are two assignments. Each must be submitted electronically, as one single typeset or scanned PDF file only, via Canvas by the deadline. Note that your assignment will not be marked if it is illegible or if it is submitted sideways or upside down. It is your responsibility to check that your assignment has been submitted correctly and that it is complete (check that you can view each page). Late submisions will receive a penalty. A mark of zero will be awarded for all submissions more than 10 days past the original due date. Further extensions past this time will not be permitted.
Quiz: One quiz will be held online through Canvas. The quiz is 40 minutes and has to be submitted by the closing time of 23:59 on the due date. The quiz can be taken any time during the 24 hour period before the closing time.
Final Exam: If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Representing complete or close to complete mastery of the material.
Distinction	75 - 84	Representing excellence, but substantially less than complete mastery.
Credit	65 - 74	Representing a creditable performance that goes beyond routine knowledge and understanding, but less than excellence.
Pass	50 - 64	Representing at least routine knowledge and understanding over a spectrum of topics and important ideas and concepts in the course.
Fail	0 - 49	Not meeting the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Definition and basic examples of metric spaces including normed vector spaces. Limits and continuity, the topology of metric spaces.	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Topological notions: closed sets, interior, closure, boundary, derived set. Simple examples and common constructions of topologies. Topologically equivalent metrics.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Convergence of sequences, sequential characterisations of closed sets in metric spaces, local bases, first countable topological spaces, uniqueness of limits and introduction to separation axioms. Sequential characterisation of continuity.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Cauchy sequences and the completeness of metric spaces, the completion of a metric space. Topological versus metric properties.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Compact topological spaces, properties of continuous functions on compact sets. Characterisations of compact metric spaces.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 06	More on compactness. Separable, second countable and Lindelöf spaces.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 07	Uniform continuity, extension of uniformly continuous functions on dense subsets.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	The contraction mapping theorem and applications: Existence and uniqueness of solutions to ordinary differential equations, inverse and implicit function theorems.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Connected topological spaces, connected components, continuous functions on connected sets.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Normal spaces, Urysohn's Lemma and the Tieze Extension Theorem.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 11	Baire's theorem and applications.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 12	Hilbert spaces, orthogonal projections and abstract Fourier series.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 13	More on Hilbert space theory, revision.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Explain and apply the foundational ideas of point set topology
LO2. Construct metric topologies, define open/closed sets of the metric spaces, and identify and explain the relationships between these and continuity and other properties of the metric space.
LO3. Find and prove properties of several important classes of sequences in metric spaces
LO4. Explain how knowledge from fundamental theorems of topological spaces and continuous mappings can be used to prove mathematical results
LO5. Demonstrate a broad understanding of important concepts in topology and exercise critical thinking to identify and use concepts to analyse examples and draw conclusions
LO6. Solve problems about differential equations using the contraction mapping theorem
LO7. Apply the concepts of separable spaces and separation properties in both simple and complex examples.
LO8. Write proofs and apply the theory of metric spaces to problems in topology.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

MATH3961: Metric Spaces (Advanced)

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect