Math 96: Putnam Seminar

Fall 2022

Announcements:

• First day of class September 23th 4pm in AP&M 6402
• Putnam Signups are open and can be found here: https://www.maa.org/math-competitions/putnam-competition. You will need to register in order to participate (which is required in order to pass the class).
• Class on October 7th will be held over zoom at https://ucsd.zoom.us/my/dankane.
• Office hours cancelled on November 23rd.
  

Homeworks:

• Homework 1 - Due in class on Friday, September 30th.
• Homework 2 - Write up a solution to a problem covered in class. Due on Friday October 7th by email to dakane@ucsd.edu.
• Homework 3 - Due in class on Friday, October 14th.
• Homework 4 - Write up a solution to a problem covered in class on October 14th. Due in class on Friday October 21st.
• Homework 5 - Due in class on Friday, October 28th.
• Homework 6 - Write up a solution to a problem covered in class on October 28th. Due in class on Friday November 4th.
• Homework 7 - Due in class on Friday, November 18th.
  
  

Class Notes:

• Basic Problem Solving
• Number Theory Techniques
• Polynomials Techniques
• Combinatorics Techniques
  

Resources:

• Course Syllabus
• Introductory guide to proofs.
• Course piazza page
• UCSD Putnam discord server
  
• Kiran’s Putnam archive.
• Previous years' handouts.
• If you want something slightly easier to practice on, check out the Van Vleck Talent Search Problems and Solutions.
• Putnam registration.
  

Course Description: Students will develop skills in analytical thinking as they solve and present solutions to challenging mathematical problems in preparation for the William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition, a national undergraduate mathematics examination held each year. Students must sit for at least one half of the Putnam exam (given the first Saturday in December) to receive a passing grade. P/NP grades only. May be taken for credit up to four times.