Faculty of Science Course Syllabus
Department of Mathematics & Statistics

MATH 2505: Introductory Analysis (Winter 2026)

Instructor: Theo Johnson-Freyd, theojf@dal.ca.
Lectures: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 12:35-13:25 Atlantic Time, Chase 319.
Office Hours: Thursdays, 14:05-16:55 Atlantic Time, Chase 214.
Course website: https://categorified.net/26Winter2505/.

Dalhousie University operates in the unceded territories of the Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkati Peoples. These sovereign nations hold inherent rights as the original peoples of these lands, and we each carry collective obligations under the Peace and Friendship Treaties. Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and Treaty rights in Canada.

We recognize that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people whose histories, legacies, and contributions have enriched the part of Mi’kma’ki known as Nova Scotia for over 400 years.

Course description

This course is for honours students and other serious students of mathematics. Topics include: the axioms for the real number system, geometry and topology of Euclidean space, limits, continuity, differentiability, the inverse and implicit function theorems. FORMAT: Lecture. PREREQUISITES: MATH 2001.03.

Course materials and delivery

The main textbook for the class is:

• Introduction to Real Analysis by R.G. Bartle and D.R. Sherbert.

Homework assignments and other materials will be available on the Course Content page.

Lectures will be given in person.

Course Assessment

Conversion of numerical grades to Final Letter Grades follows the Dalhousie Common Grade Scale.

Homework assignments: 50%.

I encourage you to work together to complete your homework assignments. Studies have shown that social ties are a main predictor of success in STEM classes. Although you are encouraged to work together, the homework you submit must be written by you individually.

There are many online resources offering solutions to homework at all levels. If you choose to use such resources, please be cautious: they often provide too detailed an answer, and students can trick themselves into thinking that they understand more than they do by copying those answers.

There will be roughly six problem sets, with a 1.5- to 2-week turnaround time for each one. Homework should be submitted on paper by the posted deadline. Homeworks should be well-organized and legible: either neatly hand-written or typed. Students will be allowed to drop one homework score for any reason. In the case of further extenuating circumstances, students should consult with the instructor.

Exams: 50%.

There will be two midterm exams and one final exam. All exams will be delivered in-person. Each midterm will be 50 minutes long and worth 15% of the final grade. The final will be 2 hours long and worth 20% of the final grade.

• Midterm 1: February 2. Held during lecture period.
• Midterm 2: March 16. Held during lecture period.
• Final exam: April TBD. Scheduled by university registrar.

Students may bring hand-written paper notes with them, but may not use electronic resources during the exam (except in cases approved by Student Accessibility Centre). The purpose of this is less about actually having the notes with you and more about preparing notes as a study method.