Math 2731 Mathematical Problem Solving

Course Outline – Spring 2017

1. Instructor

Name: Dr. Kin Y. Li

Contact Details: Rm 3471; phone 2358-7420; e-mail: makyli@ust.hk
Office Hour: Tuesdays 15:30-16:20 (or by appointment)

2. Teaching Assistant

Name: NG Yu Keung
Contact Details: Rm 3209B; phone 2358-7468; e-mail: ykngad@ust.hk

3. Meeting Time and Venue

Lectures:
Date/Time/Venue: L1 Tuesdays and Thursdays 13:30-14:50 CYT G002

Tutorials:
Date/Time/Venue: T1a Wednesdays 18:00-18:50 2610

4. Course Description

Credits Points: 3
Pre-requisite: Calculus
Exclusion: NIL

Brief Information: In this course, we will cover supplementary materials to secondary school mathemat-
ics as well as some basic undergraduate mathematics that are often used in mathematical competitions.
The topics include materials in algebra, geometry, number theory and combinatorics.

Along the way, we will look at methods of proofs and problem solving techniques. These include proof by
contradiction (indirect proof), strong mathematical induction, Fubini’s principle, tangent line method,
Muirhead expansion, method of infinite descent, bijection principle, pigeonhole principle, inclusion-
exclusion principle, coordinate-vector-complex number methods, false position principle, homothety
method, inversion method and many more.

5. Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
No. ILOs
1 recognize the power of abstraction and generalization, and apply logical reasoning to investigate
mathematical work with independent judgement,
2 collaborate in team work and communicate effectively to peer using available equipments or pre-
sentation,
3 apply rigorous deductive reasoning in conjunction with quantative methods to analyze and solve
problems related to math profession.
6. Assessment Scheme
a. Midterm, Final Exam Duration: 2 hrs each
b. Percentage of coursework, examination, etc.:

Assessment Assessing Course ILOs

20% by Homeworks 1, 3
20% by Presentations 2
30% by Midterm 1, 3
30% by Final Exam 1, 3

c. The grading is assigned based on students’ performance in assessment tasks/activities. All records of
grades will be put on the website http://grading.math.ust.hk/checkgrade/ as soon as they are available.
All records of grades will be put on the website http://grading.math.ust.hk/checkgrade/ as soon as they
are available. This course is graded by curve.

Students should make copies of homeworks before submitting the originals. In case homeworks are not
received, students will be required to resubmit copies within a short period of time (may be less than a
day).

7. Student Learning Resources

Lecture Notes:
This may be downloaded from course home page http://www.math.ust.hk/∼makyli/UG.html . Also,
selected articles in Mathematical Excalibur may supplement the lecture notes and these may be down-
loaded from www.math.ust.hk/excalibur .

Reference Books:
1. Arthur Engel, Problem-Solving Strategies, Springer-Verlag, 1998.
2. Loren Larson, Problem-Solving Through Problems, Springer-Verlag, 1983.
3. Dusan Djukic et al., The IMO Compendium, Springe-Verlag, 2006.

8. Teaching and Learning Activities

Scheduled activities: 4 hrs per week (lecture+tutorial)

9. Course Schedule
Keyword Syllabus:

• Summation methods and Fubini’s principle

• Inequalities
• Functional equations
• Basic Number Theory
• Combinatorial principles
• Useful geometry theorems
• Geometric transformations and methods