The William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition is the most prestigious undergraduate mathematics problem-solving contest in North America, with thousands of students taking part every year. This volume presents the contest problems for the years 2001–2016. The heart of the book is the solutions; these include multiple approaches, drawn from many sources, plus insights into navigating from the problem statement to a solution. There is also a section of hints, to encourage readers to engage deeply with the problems before consulting the solutions. The authors have a distinguished history of engagement with, and preparation of students for, the Putnam and other mathematical competitions. Collectively they have been named Putnam Fellow (top five finisher) ten times. Kiran Kedlaya also maintains the online Putnam Archive.
This third volume of problems from the William Lowell Putnam Competition is unlike the previous two in that it places the problems in the context of important mathematical themes. The authors highlight connections to other problems, to the curriculum and to more advanced topics. The best problems contain kernels of sophisticated ideas related to important current research, and yet the problems are accessible to undergraduates. The solutions have been compiled from the American Mathematical Monthly, Mathematics Magazine and past competitors. Multiple solutions enhance the understanding of the audience, explaining techniques that have relevance to more than the problem at hand. In addition, the book contains suggestions for further reading, a hint to each problem, separate from the full solution and background information about the competition. The book will appeal to students, teachers, professors and indeed anyone interested in problem solving as a gateway to a deep understanding of mathematics.
This book takes the reader on a journey through the world of college mathematics, focusing on some of the most important concepts and results in the theories of polynomials, linear algebra, real analysis, differential equations, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, elementary number theory, combinatorics, and probability. Preliminary material provides an overview of common methods of proof: argument by contradiction, mathematical induction, pigeonhole principle, ordered sets, and invariants. Each chapter systematically presents a single subject within which problems are clustered in each section according to the specific topic. The exposition is driven by nearly 1300 problems and examples chosen from numerous sources from around the world; many original contributions come from the authors. The source, author, and historical background are cited whenever possible. Complete solutions to all problems are given at the end of the book. This second edition includes new sections on quad ratic polynomials, curves in the plane, quadratic fields, combinatorics of numbers, and graph theory, and added problems or theoretical expansion of sections on polynomials, matrices, abstract algebra, limits of sequences and functions, derivatives and their applications, Stokes' theorem, analytical geometry, combinatorial geometry, and counting strategies. Using the W.L. Putnam Mathematical Competition for undergraduates as an inspiring symbol to build an appropriate math background for graduate studies in pure or applied mathematics, the reader is eased into transitioning from problem-solving at the high school level to the university and beyond, that is, to mathematical research. This work may be used as a study guide for the Putnam exam, as a text for many different problem-solving courses, and as a source of problems for standard courses in undergraduate mathematics. Putnam and Beyond is organized for independent study by undergraduate and gradu ate students, as well as teachers and researchers in the physical sciences who wish to expand their mathematical horizons.
Back by popular demand, the MAA is pleased to reissue this outstanding collection of problems and solutions from the Putnam Competitions covering the years 1938-1964. Problemists the world over, including all past and future Putnam Competitors, will revel in mastering the difficulties posed by this collection of problems from the first 25 William Lowell Putnam Competitions.
In Timothy Murphy's Getting Off Clean, the one thing that Eric Fitzpatrick wants is to escape--both from his family and the racially tense town in which he lives. The only son of an Italian-Irish family in a working class suburb of Boston, he intends to go away to college and leave his old life far behind. But all his plans are set askew when he meets Brooks, a mysterious, wealthy, black student at a local prep school. As their relationship grows ever deeper and more complicated, Eric must come to terms not only with his family and community, but with his warring ambitions and desires.
Every successful team includes a critical player, the Synergist, who can take dreams, realists, and systems designers, and knit them together into a dynamic team. McKeown shows how any individual can fill this critical role, whether or not they're the formal leader of the group.
This is an outstanding collection of challenging problems of "Olympiad-style" mathematics for High School students. Taken from the annual Austrian-Polish Mathematics Competition (APMC), these problems are appropriate for students & teachers who are interested in supplementing their normal mathematical curriculums with advanced problem-solving exercises. Each problem has a solution that is presented with elegant style & clarity, reflecting the long-standing tradition associated with Polish mathematicians. THIS BOOK SHOULD BE ON EVERY HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY SHELF IN ORDER TO GIVE HIGHLY MOTIVATED MATH STUDENTS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THEIR SKILLS & TO FACE NEW CHALLENGES. Problems will also help students prepare for local, national or international mathematics competitions. Students & teachers will enjoy the refreshing nature of Dr. Kuczma's intelligence & style of writing. Dr. Marcin Kuczma, from the University of Warsaw, Poland, is devoted to teaching & to mathematics competitions. He has been active in the Polish Mathematical Olympiad for about twenty years. He is responsible for the proposal of several International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) problems, as well as numerous Austrian-Polish Mathematics Competition problems. He is also the recipient of many honors, including the prestigious David Hilbert Medal, awarded in 1992 by the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions. Ordering information: Academic Distribution Center, 1218 Walker Rd., Freeland, MD 21053, phone#/FAX#: (410) 343-0409.
When a cat grows up and begins to have a problem, his owners make decisions that force the cat to confront mortality and the darker side of human indifference.Questions regarding death, convenience, and futility converge in the guise of this suburban feline tragedy.
