Room: Physics P122
Time: F 2:20-3:15 pm
Instructor:
Vladlen Timorin
e-mail: timorin at math dot sunysb dot edu
Office: 4-102 Math Tower Phone: 2-8265
Office hours: MW 4-6pm (M 5-6pm hour is held at the Math Learning Center)
MAT 260: Problem Solving in Mathematics
Fall 2006
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Room: Physics P122
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Important Announcements
Next Friday, December 8, we will discuss problems from the 2006 Putnam exam held on December 2. The problems and solutions are already posted. |
Homeworks: You do not need to write down your solutions (but this might be a good idea). Submitting written solutions is also unnecessary but if you want me to check your solution, I will be happy to do that. Try to solve as many problems as you can (or have time to), and be prepared to discuss solutions in class. You are not usually expected to solve all problems. Problems given in this course are more difficult than usual homework exercises.
Course description: We will be solving Olympiad type or Putnam type mathematical problems (however, most problems will be below the Putnam level; see the special announcement for Putnam training sessions at the end of this page). There are some ideas and tricks that are used in many different problems. We will discuss these ideas and tricks, attempting to classify them. The subjects include combinatorics, number theory, algebra, geometry, inequalities, calculus, games, probability. Homeworks will contain problem sets on each of the topics discussed. Group work on these problem sets is very welcome.
Grading policy: The grading is S / U (Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory). There will be no final exam. The grade will be determined by the effort in doing the homeworks and in participation.
Useful Links:
Putnam Competition: All students enrolled in this course are encouraged to take part in Putnam Competition. We organize special Putnam Training Sessions, which are on volunteer basis and are independent of this course.