William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition
~*~ FALL 2006 ~*~
(last updated Nov. 3, 2006)
 Rules & Past Putnams   Helpful Websites   List of Session Dates (w/handouts)   CALENDAR   Send Email 
The 67th Annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition will be held this year on Saturday, December 2, 2006.

Students who do not have a bachelors degree (in any discipline) and who have taken the exam fewer than 4 times are eligible to participate.
The registration form is due Oct. 13. Let me know by Oct. 9 if you want to register!
Putnam Rules, Information, and Past Putnam Questions
  Putnam Exam Rules and Grading, thanks to Dr. Yang Kuang, at Arizona State University
Putnam Exam Regulations (pdf), thanks to Prof. W. Kahan at UC Berkeley 		  Putnam Exams from the Past (1938-2003) Thanks to John Scholes in the U.K.
  Detailed Information From the MAA   Putnam Exams Prizes and Winners

 Rules & Past Putnams   Helpful Websites   List of Session Dates (w/handouts)   CALENDAR   Send Email 
 
Websites that may be helpful:
(in no particular order)


 Rules & Past Putnams   Helpful Websites   List of Session Dates (w/handouts)   CALENDAR   Send Email 

NEXT problem-solving sessions:
  • Monday, Oct. 30 (11:30 college hour)
  • Friday, Nov. 3 (4-5pm)
    • Here is Dave's handout (pdf file) from the Nov. 3 session
      • Page 1 is a cover sheet
      • PRINT PAGE 2 for the problems
      • Page 3 has answers (but not worked out)
    • Talk to Dave Arnold or Bruce Wagner or Rob Selkowitz or me for information on solutions
      •
  • Friday, Nov. 17, 4-5pm
  • Friday, Dec. 1, 4-5pm (the day before the Putnam!)
Spread the word! Everyone is welcome to come and join in on the fun!

THIRD problem-solving session:
FRIDAY, OCT. 27, 4-5pm

Problems to work on for FRIDAY, Oct. 27:
For problem-solving practice, we are going to work on some problems that are more straight-forward to help us develop good problem-solving skills. This week, look at Nicholas Rogers' Math 294 Putnam Seminar page at Univ. of Arizona: http://math.arizona.edu/~nfrogers/Teaching/Fall2006/Math294A/

Look at the problems he has for Sept 18 on Mathematical Induction at http://math.arizona.edu/~nfrogers/Teaching/Fall2006/Math294A/induction.pdf

In our 2nd problem-solving session, we discussed using induction and looked at Problems 3 and 5 on that page.
Write those up carefully (Problems 3 and 5), using the induction style of proof.
REMEMBER: Part of what we need to practice is how to write things out clearly and completely.

Then also work on at least one other problem. I suggest taking a stab at #2 or #8 or #12, but if a different problem catches your interest, then go ahead and work on it!

When we meet again, we will share what we have done and compare write-ups of #3 and #5.


SECOND problem-solving session:
MONDAY, Oct. 16, during COLLEGE HOUR! Another Fun Problem-Solving Session (in PS 117).

Our FIRST problem-solving session will be:
Friday the 13th (Yup!) of October, 4-5pm, in PS 117
These are possible additional problem-solving session Dates:
  • Possibly one or two Mondays 11:30-12:20
  • Friday, Oct. 27
  • Friday, Nov. 3
  • Friday, Nov. 17
  • Friday, Dec. 1 (the day before the Putnam!)
All Fridays are 4-5pm. We hope to select four or five dates, so please let me know (ASAP) which sessions you would come to.

N.B.: All students are welcome to the problem-solving sessions regardless of whether they want to do the Putnam this year (or ever).
 Rules & Past Putnams   Helpful Websites   List of Session Dates (w/handouts)   CALENDAR   Send Email 
Pre-Putnam Problem-solving Session Calendar:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Oct 9 Oct 10 Oct 11 Oct 12

4pm HSU Colloquium ['poster']		 Oct 13
Problem Session #1
4-5pm in PS 117
Oct 16
Problem Session #2
College Hour in PS 117
 Oct 17 Oct 18 Oct 19 Oct 20
3pm HSU Colloquium ['poster']

Science Night		 Oct 21
CMCFN Conference [website]
Oct 23
MSE Colloquium: Lindsay Magnuson on Monkeys of Ghana
College Hour in PS 113
 Oct 24  210 Day Oct 25 Oct 26

4pm HSU Colloquium ['poster']		 Oct 27
Problem Session #3
4-5pm in PS 117
Oct 30
Problem Session #4
College Hour in PS 117
[HANDOUT]
 Oct 31  HALLOWEEN Nov 1 Nov 2

4pm HSU Colloquium ['poster']		 Nov 3
Problem Session #5
4-5pm in PS 117
[HANDOUT]
Nov 6
MSE Colloquium: Becky Evans on science through the eyes of an artist
College Hour in PS 113
 Nov 7 Nov 8 Nov 9

4pm HSU Colloquium ['poster']

HSU Kieval Lecture: Jerrold E. Marsden		 Nov 10
Veterans Day
(CR Holiday)
Nov 13
(Math Dept Mtg, College Hr)		 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16

4pm HSU Colloquium ['poster']		 Nov 17
Problem Session #6
4-5pm in PS 117
Nov 20
MSE Colloquium: Mike Manetas on H.Bay Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning
College Hour in PS 113
 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23-24
Thanksgiving Holidays
Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30

4pm HSU Colloquium ['poster']		 Dec 1
Problem Session #7
4-5pm in PS 117
 Dec 2
Putnam Exam
8-11am, 1-4pm in PS 117
 Rules & Past Putnams   Helpful Websites   List of Session Dates (w/handouts)   CALENDAR   Send Email