Activities

This page will list down the course activities in addition to the lectures.

Problem Sets (30%): We are aiming at 7 problem sets (and will take the best 6 of them towards grading). They will be posted (at the course emailing list) with the following timeline. For each problem set, it describes posting deadlines - soft deadline for submission - hard deadline for submission - evaluation deadline. Note that the evaluation deadline is for applicable only for the submissions before the soft deadline. Under any circumstances, submission will not be accepted after the hard deadline. The first and last deadline applies for the instructor and TAs. All regular evaluation procedures for this course (except the endsemester exam) will be complete by Nov 18th, 2014.

Exams (65%):
  • Quiz 1 (15%) : Sept 1, 8am-8:50am
  • Quiz 2 (20%) : Oct 12, 10am-12pm
  • End-sem Exam (35%): Nov 19, 9am - 12pm

Eureka Problem Sets (+5%): These are sets of problems that will be posted occasionally on the course mailing list and are (possibly) harder. The aim is that students who attempt to solve these problems should be more motivated by the "curiosity" and "challenge" rather than what it contributes to the final grade. Here are the rules of the game.
  • Submission is optional.
  • We will be incrementally adding more problems over the semester to one tex file. We targeting a total of 100 points on Eureka Set evaluations and as of Aug 28, questions worth of 50 points have been sent out. On Nov 2nd the remaining questions were sent out.
  • One submission of all Eureka Set problems together is due on Nov 17, 2014, 8am.
  • The Eureka set scores will not be considered while deciding the grade cut offs for the class (which, by design, is relative). Thus, in terms of the grades, Eureka set scores can possibly help turn some just-missing-X grade to X grade (where X is S, A, B, C, D, E) and it does not affect the grades of others who decided not to take up the challenge.
  • Submit only if it is your own answer (completely) and only if you think (at least suspect) your answer is correct. Write down mathematical proofs.
  • Do *not* consult Internet sources for answers. Posting these questions on internet forums for solution is not allowed. These questions should not be discussed in course forums at moodle.