Mathematics 414, Fall 2010
Homework
Assignment of Course Grade
- There is no final exam. There is a midterm, which counts for 10 to 15 percent of the final grade.
- Class contributions count for 20 to 15 percent of the final grade.
- Assignments count for 35 to 40 percent of the final grade.
- Class mmbers are expected to participate in at least 3 workshops. The grade for these counts for 35 to 30 percent of the final grade.
- Individual modifications may be made for any outstanding classroom contribution(s), outsanding contribution(s) to problem creation and analysis, or outsanding workshop performance(s).
Rough Course Outline
During the course, we look at problems that are in principle accessible to Secondary School students, and, in many cases, some Elementary School students. We focus on contest-type problems, but stay far away from the "Olympiad" level. The course is historically closely connected to the UBC Math Department's workshop program in the schools. We will
- solve a variety of problems, writing up solutions carefully, and present solutions in class
- develop problems for presentation in school math workshops
- participate actively in the workshop program
- develop some problems for the Math Challengers (roughly equivalent to the USA MathCounts) math competition
Textbook
There is no textbook. However, it will be helpful to become very familiar with (parts of) the following items.
- the UBC workshop problems up to 2006. These are available on the Department web site. Click on Old Workshop Problems.
- the UBC workshop Problems of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The files have not been posted on the Department web site, but are available by clicking on the various links below.
- the various CEMC ("Waterloo") contests, most importantly the Euclid; files of past contests are at
CEMC Contests
- problems from the Canadian Open Mathematical Challenge, at
COMC
- problems used in past Math Challengers competitions
- There are hundreds of other web sites that have problems at the appropriate levels. One interesting local competition is the BC Secondary School Mathematics Contest.
Instructor Information
Instructor: Andrew Adler, Office number TBA
e-mail address: adler(AT)math(DOT)ubc(DOT)ca
Telephone: Out of order
Office hours: TBA
I will be in my office during office hours (no appointment needed). At other times, if I am around I am generally available, but making an appointment will save frustration.
Please remember also that many problems can be settled simply by e-mail.