MATHEMATICAL RECREATIONS

HONORS MATHEMATICAL RECREATIONS

Instructor -- Pavel Guerzhoy

The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:10 - 11:30am at 308, Barton Hall.


Office: 514, Wachman Hall (5-th floor)
tel: (215)-204-8607
e-mail: pasha @math.temple.edu (usually, I respond to e-mail messages within a day)
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:40-2pm
Reading
In this class we use the book
  • Bonnie Averbach, Orin Chein; MATHEMATICS. Problem solving through recreational mathematics, W.H.Freeman and company.
    The book is really unavoidable, and cannot be replaced with another textbook.
    Course Objective
    To develop problem-solving and logical thinking techniques many of which are applicable in other fields.
    Prerequisites
    There are no formal prerequisites. However, fluency in elementary algebra is absolutely necessary for success.
    Grading Policy
    The course contains a combination of concepts, ideas and techniques. To understand the material means to be able to apply it in solving problems. At the end of the day, your grade will reflect your ability to solve specific problems.

    Final Grade comes out from

  • Final exam on Tuesday, Dec, 13, from 8:30 to 10:30 pm, at BB308 (usual class meeting room).
  • Regular homework consists of the problems from the list below and counts for 50% of the final grade.
  • Web-based homework -- Bulls and Cows counts for 20% of the final grade.



    Disability Disclosure Statement
    Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at 215-204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities



    Contents


    and Homework assignements 


     

     CHAPTER 3   From words to equations: algebraic recreation (word problems)    
     
p.85 ff.:
Due Sep., 13: 1,3,6,8,9
Due Sep., 20: 12,13,17,19,21
Due Sep., 27: 23,24,30
Due Oct., 4:  31,33,34,36,40,43
Due Oct., 11: 47,48ab,50
Due Oct., 25: 56ab,57,59,61
 

     CHAPTER 5    Bases and cryptarithmetic  (only bases are considered in class) 
     
Due Nov., 8: 5A p.149 2abcd;  5B p.150 2abcde, 3abc; 5C 2c, 4, 6, 9;

Due Nov., 22: p.163 ff. 2ac, 3,5,7,8,9a,10,12,25,27,28,30a



     CHAPTER 4 Solve it with integers  (optional, for extra credit!) 
    
 The theory and problems from this chapter will NOT be discussed in class.  
 However, the problems below are not at all difficult and are closely related to the explanations in the book. 
 The challenge, for those who choose to face it, consists of reading Chapter 4, understanding the text and confirming this understanding by solving the problems. 

4A p.105: 1,2,3; 4C p.110 2f; 4D p.111 2abc, 4ab, 5b, 7a; 
4E p.113 2, 5bc; 4F p.115 2; 4G p.116 2ab, 3bcd, 4ab; 
4H p.120 2,4; 4I p.121 2; 4J p.122 2, 4, 6, 8, 9; 
4K p.124 2, 4, 6, 8; 4N p.129 2; 4O p.130 2, 4; 4P p.131 2; 4Q p.133 2

p.138 ff. 1,2,4,5,16,17