What does a hypercube look like? What is a curved space and why can't it have a flat map? What are points at infinity? What is the biology of Flatland? On what spaces do "straight lines" cross themselves? What shapes can be used to fill up space? How are the holes in a shape related to its curvature?
This course will center on big ideas--such as dimension, curvature, infinity, and shape--that answer questions about geometry and space, both practical and theoretical.
The approach will be cultural, historical and interactive. Readings will go beyond textbooks to historical sources and philosophical writings. Ideas will be investigated with experiments that can be done in a classroom, ranging from cardboard models to software and videos.
There will be a reading and writing assignment each week. The other, major, assignment will be a project on an individual topic.
For more information send e-mail to < king@math.washington.edu>.