Putnam training sessions and practice contests
Last update: Sat 22 Sep 2007 04:11:06 PM CDT
Training sessions
During each fall semester, the U of I mathematics department is offering weekly
Putnam training sessions. Those interested in honing their problem solving
skills and learning a bunch of useful mathematical tricks and techniques along
the way are welcome to join us any time. The sessions are largely independent
of each other, so you can still benefit from the sessions if you missed the
first few sessions or if you won't be able to attend all sessions. In each of
these meetings we usually discuss a specific problem solving technique and
hand out a problem sheet to practice this technique on.
Mock Putnam Exams
In addition to the training sessions, we are offering
biweekly practice contests. These "Mock Putnam Exams"
are similar in format and content to the actual Putnam competition,
consisting of five problems to be solved in a two hour period. They
are held evenings; dates and locations
for these exams will be announced in
the Putnam newsletter (see below).
Students planning to take the
UIUC Undergraduate Math Contest at the end
of the Spring semester are particularly encouraged to take these exams.
The problems and solutions of past
Mock Putnam Exams are
available on the web.
Registration
The training sessions and practice contests
are very informal, so there is no need to register - just show up.
The training sessions will be most useful
at the beginner level, while the Mock Putnam Exams should
be useful to both beginners and seasoned problem solvers.
You need not attend the training sessions or participate
in the practice contests
in order to take the Putnam exam. Similarly, participation in
the training sessions does not obligate you to taking the Putnam exam.
UIUC Putnam team selection
The UIUC Putnam team, consisting of three students plus one or more
alternates, must be named by early October. The Mock Putnam Exams
are intended to identify strong candidates for the Putnam team.
However, other factors, such as performance in previous Putnam
competitions and in UIUC Undergraduate Math Contests, are also
taken into consideration.
The U of I Putnam Newsletter
The U of I Putnam Newsletter is an
email newsletter containing announcements about
the Putnam competition and other
contest-related activities at the U of
I, and a "Problem of the Week." The mailing list for the
newsletter is maintained by Professor Hildebrand;
send email to ajh@uiuc.edu to be put on this mailing list.
Note: This is a local newsletter, with announcements of
local events and activities that would be of little interest
to those not at the U of I. To keep the mailing list manageable, it is
restricted to U of I students and faculty.
Back
to the U of I Math Contests page