Introduction to Discrete Structures (Math 61, Fall 2013)

Instructor: Igor Pak
pak@math.ucla (add .edu at the end, put "Math 61" in the subject line (without quotes), see more on the bottom of this page)

Class schedule: MWF 1:00 - 1:50, MS 4000A
Recitation: Tu or Th 1:00 - 1:50, various locations

Office Hours: M 11-11:50 am, M 4-5 pm.

Teaching Assistants: Ted Dokos, Jordan Greenblatt, Zach Norwood (Emails: tdokos, jsg66, znorwood at math.ucla.edu)
TA Office Hours: Dokos: Tu 11:30-12:30, Greenblatt: Th 3-4, Norwood: M 3–4.

Textbook: Richard Johnsonbaugh (RJ), Discrete mathematics, 7th Edition (multiple copies on reserve).

Additional reading will be posted on this page if necessary.

Grading: All scores and grades will be available on MyUCLA website. The course grade will be determined by the cumulative percentage of scores at the end of the quarter. This is calculated by taking the BETTER of the two schemes:

Homeworks: 15%, Two midterms: 15% each, Quizzes: 10%, Final: 45%.
Homeworks: 15%, Best midterm: 20%, Quizzes: 10%, Final: 55%.

Difficulty: This is an introductory course in Discrete Mathematics. The students are expected to learn the theory and solve problems on the homeworks.

Content and Schedule

We will follow closely selected sections from the textbook. An approximate schedule of lectures is given on the official department course page.

Home Assignments

The weekly home assignments will be given on Wednesdays to be returned also on Wednesday the following week right before class. Worst HA will be dropped from the final score.

The assignments will be posted here (on the course web page) in .pdf format. Unless announced otherwise, you need to return them in writing right before the Wed class. No late assignments will be accepted.

HA1, due Wed Oct 9. Solutions: HA1-sol.
HA2, due Wed Oct 16. Solutions: HA2-sol.
HA3, due Wed Oct 23. Solutions: HA3-sol.
HA4, due Wed Nov 6. Solutions: HA4-sol.
HA5, due Fri Nov 15. Solutions: HA5-sol.
HA6, due Wed Nov 27. Solutions: HA6-sol.
HA7, due Fri Dec 6. Solutions: HA7-sol.

Warning: Only selected HA problems will be graded, chosen by the instructor.

Quizzes, Midterm and Final Exams

There will be weekly quizzes given on Mondays. These will be multiple choice and take under 10 min. Worst quiz score will be dropped as well.

Quiz1. Answers: 6, 6, 2, 12, 4³.
Quiz2. Answers: -3¹⁰, {a_n} and {b_n}, eq, sym, by induction.
Quiz3. Answers: 11-choose-7, all of these, (10-choose-7)², 7!/4!, 120.
Quiz4. Answers: F_n+1, 8 and 9 and 10, 4 initial values, first r.r. only, by contradiction.
Quiz5. Answers: n+2, the last three formulas, reflection, [P₇, C₆, K₄, K_2,3], all of these.
Quiz6. Answers: 9·8·7·6·5, [ C₉, K₄], 24 (reason: 24=3·10-6), [(A¹⁰)_1,3, (A¹⁰)_3,1], by contradiction.

There will be two in-class midterms and one final. Midterm dates: October 23 (Wednesday), November 15 (Friday).

Midterm1. Solutions: Midterm1-sol.
Midterm2. Solutions: Midterm2-sol.

Final: Friday, December 13, 2013, 8:00 am - 11:00 am.

Warning: no calculators, books, notebooks, phones, or any other equipments is allowed on the exams. The only items allowed are pens/pencils and erasers. The paper will be provided.

Discussion Sections

The discussion section will be a time for students to get help with homework and gain additional mastery of the problems. While attendance is not required it is strongly recommended that you go. You should go to the section which you are enrolled; changing section is allowed only by permission of TA of the section you are switching to.

Collaboration Policy

For the homeworks, you can form discussion groups of up to 5 people each. In fact, I would like to encourage you to do that. You can discuss problems but have to write your own separate solutions. You should write the list of people in you group on top of each HA.

Cheating

Cheating is a serious violation of UCLA policies. Please read here and here. Students caught cheating will be reported and suffer the consequences. Do NOT cheat!! Don't even think about it!

Complaints

Any issues about grading for homeworks or exams must be addressed to your TA within two weeks of the turn-in date. After that time no score changes will be allowed. Issues with Final and the final grade must be addressed to the instructor.

Click here to return to Igor Pak Home Page.

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Put Math 61 in the Subject line. Please address me as "Dear Professor Pak".
At the end of your email, you must include your full name, UCLA id, and your official ucla.edu email address (for privacy purposes). Replies will be send only to the UCLA address.

Last updated 11/9/2013.