Time: MW 3:00-4:00, 2-136
| Office hours: | Richard Stanley, 2-375: | MW 11-12, or by appointment |
Course assistants and graders: TBA
This course is an undergraduate seminar (geared toward freshmen) on mathematical problem solving. It is intended for students who enjoy solving challenging mathematical problems and who are interested in learning various techniques and background information useful for problem solving. There will be some emphasis on problems from the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition (a nationwide mathematics contest for undergraduates), and all students in the seminar are expected to participate in this Competition on December 5, 2009. Reasonable class attendance is also expected. The definition of "reasonable" is not precise, but a lot of unexcused absences is cause for concern.
A questionnaire will be handed out in the first class and should be returned by the end of the class. This will be used to determine the class participants. You can also print the questionnaire now and hand it in when you come to the first class.
Dinner at Royal East Restaurant, November 11:
#1, #2, #3.
Class problems and handouts
Reference list of books on problem
solving (incomplete)
Some useful links
