Course: Math 407, Introduction to Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces
Class hours: MWF 2pm-3pm
Classroom: Room 199, Cupples I
Instructor: Quo-Shin Chi
Office: Room 210, Cupples I
Office Hours: 3pm-4pm, MWF
Textbook: Elementary Differential Geometry, 2nd ed., by Barrett O'Neill


     We shall cover Chapters 1 through 7, skipping Chapter 3 on Euclidean Geometry, to end with the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem. This course is basically a modern account of the seminal paper of Gauss on the general investigation of surfaces in the Euclidean space. We shall  emphasize the notion of differential forms, introduced by E. Cartan in the 1920s, that embodies the underlying geometric structure. The method of moving frames, also introduced by E. Cartan, will be our calculational tool.
      There will be homework  assignments (30%), one take-home midterm (30%) and one take-home final (40%).