MATH PROBLEM SOLVING WEB PAGE
Web page for the Northwestern University Math Problem Solving Group.
Goals
- Acquire basic math problem solving skills.
- Help in training future candidates for the yearly Putnam Competition.
Activities
- Solve math problems proposed in magazines like Math
Horizons, College Mathematics Journal and the
Mathematics Magazine. Ideally we should solve at least one
problem from each issue.
- Discuss solutions to problems and study mathematical subjects
related to problem solving.
Further information (external site):
MATH PROBLEM SOLVING WEB PAGE
Bibliography
- G. Alexanderson et al.: The William Lowell Putnam
Mathematical Competition problems and solutions: 1965-1984,
The Mathematical Association of America, Washington, D.C., 1985.
- W. W. Rouse Ball and H.S.M. Coxeter:
Mathematical Recreations and Essays (13th edition),
Dover Publications, 1987.
- Benjamin Bold: Famous Problems of Geometry and How to
Solve Them, Dover Publications, 1969.
- Heinrich Dorrie: 100 Great Problems of Elementary
Mathematics, Dover Publications, 1989.
- Arthur Engel: Problem-Solving Strategies, Springer,
1998.
- Gelfand, Gerver, Kirillov, Konstantinov and Kushnirenko:
Sequences, Combinations, Limits, Dover Publications, 1969.
- A.M. Gleason et al.: The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical
Competition problems and solutions: 1938-1964, The Mathematical
Association of America, Washington, D.C., 1980.
- Kedlaya, Poonen and Vakil: The William Lowell Putnam
Mathematical Competition 1985-2000: Problems, Solutions and
Commentary, The Mathematical Association of America, Washington,
D.C., 2002.
- Kenneth Hardy and Kenneth S. Williams: The Green Book of
Mathematical Problems, Dover Publications, Inc., 1997.
- Kenneth Hardy and Kenneth S. Williams: The Red Book of
Mathematical Problems, Dover Publications, Inc., 1996.
- Frederick Mosteller: Fifty Challenging Problems in
Probability with Solutions, Dover Publications, 1965.
- Donald J. Newman: A Problem Seminar, Springer, problem
books in mathematics, 1982.
- G. Polya: How to Solve It, 2nd ed., Princeton University
Press, 1957.
- Alfred S. Posamentier, Charles T. Salkind: Challenging
Problems in Algebra, Dover Publications, 1988.
- Alfred S. Posamentier, Charles T. Salkind: Challenging
Problems in Geometry, Dover Publications, 1988.
- D. O. Shklarsky, N. N. Chentzov, I. M. Yaglom: The USSR
Olympiad Problem Book: Selected Problems and Theorems of Elementary
Mathematics, Dover Publications, 1993.
- Hugo Steinhaus: One Hundred Problems in Elementary
Mathematics, Dover Publications, 1979.
- Wayne A. Wickelgren: How to Solve Mathematical Problems,
Dover Publications, 1995.
- Herbert S. Wilf: Generatingfunctionology, online book,
(download at
http://www.math.upenn.edu/~wilf/DownldGF.html).
- Peter Winkler: Mathematical Puzzles: A Connoisseur's
Collection, A K Peters, Ltd., 2004.
- A. M. Yaglom, I. M. Yaglom: Challenging Mathematical Problems
with Elementary Solutions Vol. 1 & 2, Dover Publications,
1987.
- Paul Zeitz: The Art and Craft of Problem Solving, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999.
Comments, suggestions...? email Miguel A. Lerma at:
mlerma at math dot northwestern dot edu