FYSP 179 - Symmetry

Semester Offered: First Semester
Credits (Range): 4 hours
Attribute: 2HU, 2NS, QP-H, WR

Both the natural world and the man-made world are rife with symmetry. We will investigate a number of places where symmetry is found. Topics will come from biology, chemistry, and physics on the one hand, and visual art, music, and architecture on the other. We will also discuss the philosophy of aesthetics and its connection to symmetry. To be able to talk coherently about these concepts, we will discuss precise mathematical notions of symmetry, and we will explore the rich world this mathematics opens up.
Instructor: K. Woods