MATH5515: Special Topics in Pure Mathematics A (Introduction to the Riemann Zeta Function)

- Assignments (45%; 15% each)
- Final exam (55%)

There are no formal prerequisites for the course since this course is expected to be taken in your Honours year. But if you plan on taking it pre-Honours (like I did), then you are expected to have completed MATH2621 and it is recommended to have taken some abstract algebra and analysis since we also deal with group homomorphisms when talking about Dirichlet characters.

Quite an interesting course but quite difficult as expected. The course extends MATH2621 with a deeper focus on the number theoretic topics of analysis. With a primary focus on the Riemann Zeta Function, the course serves as an introductory class on many areas within analytic number theory which is refreshing to see. Dr. Lee Zhao does an excellent job at not only teaching the topics but offer historical insights into the development of such topics. His exposition, both orally and written, is interesting to read and listen to.
The assessments are what you expect in a Level 5 course. They're not overly difficult but they require you to develop intuition and insights about the results examined in class. I wholeheartedly recommend this course if you enjoyed Complex Analysis and it really does the field of analytic number theory justice.

- 1 x 2 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour lecture
- 1 hour tutorial

4.5/5

Yes.

Dr. Lee Zhao

Full lecture notes are available.

4/5

None prescribed.

2022 Term 1

84 DN.