Home page of JUM 204HF / MEJ 204HF Mathematics and Poetry

Professors Robert McCann (Mathematics) and Malcolm Woodland (English)

FUTURE MEETINGS:
Faculty scheduled final exam

FINAL TUTORIAL HOUR (ATTENDANCE OPTIONAL): Andrew Critch (TA) critch(at)math.toronto.edu
15h10 SUNDAY Dec 9 in BA 2175

OFFICE HOURS (* revised Dec 12 *):
Professor McCann 18h10-19h00 Thursday Dec 13 in BA 6183;
No Friday office hours for Professor McCann in December.

Course information (mathematics)
Poetry syllabus
Further reading on mathematics and mathematicians:
Especially recommended: Thurston (1994) and Polya "How to solve it" (1945)

Please be sure to justify your answers as completely as possible with logical reasoning, and write up your solutions as cleanly and neatly as you can. Late assignments will be graded only at the pleasure of the TA; if graded they will be penalized 5% per day late, except in case of written medical justification. Late assignments must be turned into the Professor or TA personally, or to the Mathematics office (BA 6290, open 9-5 pm) where they will be stamped with the date.

Math Assignment #1 (due Sept. 19, 2007)
Background reading on Pascal's triangle
Math Assignment #2 (problems 1-3, due Sept. 26)
Please bring SCISSORS and TAPE to class on Sept. 26!
Math Assignment #3 (problems 1-4, due Oct. 3)
Solution to Assignment #3 pages 1; 2;
Math Assignment #4 (problems 1-3, due Oct. 10);
Math Assignment #5 (problems 1-2, due Oct. 17);
One page summary of and your personal reaction to Thurston (1994) to be emailed to mccann(at)math.toronto.edu by Oct. 24
Math Assignment #6 (problems 2,4,5 and one more of your choice; due Oct. 24);
Math Assignment #7 (problems 1,2,6 and one more of your choice; due Oct. 31);
Math Assignment #8 (problem 1 of today's handout, plus problem 9 from last week's handout; due Nov. 7);
Math Assignment #9 (problems 6, 7, 10, and 12, due Nov. 14);
Math Assignment #10 (problems 1-4, due Nov. 21);
Math Assignment #11 (problems 1-3, due Nov. 28);
Math Assignment #12 (problem 1 and, as a bonus, problem 3; due Dec. 5).
Note problem 1(c) should refer to 52 cards, numbered 1 through 50 (instead of 1 through 52), plus two identical jokers.
Also, find a copy of the Darts referred to in the bonus problem 3 posted here.
Math Final Exam Preparation

* Most of these assignments are borrowed from a collection of problems called "In process" by Peter D. Taylor, which are used to teach a similar course (Interdisciplinary Studies 303) at Queen's University. They are posted with permission of the author.