Instructor: Tom Zaslavsky
Office: LN 2231
Office phone: 777-2201
Office hours (no appointment necessary):
Textbook: R. Brualdi, Introductory Combinatorics, fourth edition. We will cover several chapters of the book, beginning with most of Chapters 1, 3, 5, 6, and including Chapter 2 and more. (See the syllabus.)
Grading System: There will be 590 course points.
Tests (Mondays 9/26, 10/31, 12/5): 100 points each. Final Exam: 150 points. Homework: for handing in assignments, 40 points, for quality of homework, 60 points. Class participation: 40 points.The tests are held in class on Mondays: Sept. 26, Oct. 31, and Dec. 5. The final exam date is Dec. 14 (see above). Each test will cover the topics that we covered up to the time of the test and since the last test. The final exam is comprehensive but with extra attention to topics covered after the last test.
Attendance: We meet M, W, Th, F. Attendance is expected every day. Discussion is a big part of the course (and more fun). Thursdays are not optional, no kidding!
Test Policy: You are responsible for everything covered in class and for all assigned readings and problems. NO MAKEUPS will normally be allowed on quizzes (if any) or class tests, but I will use my discretion. If you miss a test be prepared to document the reason. No early finals under any circumstances. If you have a question about any grade, you must see me before the next test. There may or may not be quizzes, and they may or may not be announced in advance.
Advice about tests (and good for homework too): Often there are several ways to solve a problem. Some may be faster than others. Your ability to find efficient solutions will be a factor in taking tests. If you find inefficient, long solutions to some problems, you may not have enough time to finish a test. This is not speed, it is knowing how to find good ways of solving problems. You develop this by practice. Keep it in mind!
Homework: Most problems will not be graded; they will be discussed in class (as time allows), usually one or two days a week. (You may ask about any problem, not necessarily assigned--again as time allows.) I'll specify a few hand-in problems that will be collected and some graded; they will not be discussed until after they are returned. Normally (but not always) discussion will begin Wednesday, hand-ins will be due by the beginning of class on Friday (in class) and returned Monday or Wednesday. I NEVER ACCEPT LATE HW. (Early HW is fine. You may leave it in my mailbox or on the door of my office any time before the deadline. Not under my door, please!)
HW grading system (with an occasional exception): Each problem gets 4 "HW points".
I expect all answers to be fully justified (unless my instructions say otherwise). A ``HW point'' is worth about 0.1 course point, so don't worry about a point on the homework, but do worry if you don't understand how to solve the problem or how it was graded! Then come and discuss it with me.
For other rules, see the homework page.
Class Presentation: I'll expect everyone to present HW problems in class. (If you have any problem with this, please see me soon to make alternative arrangements.) You need not be correct, but you must have made a good try. If you are absent or not ready the first time I call you, I'll call on you the next week.