If you're interested in typesetting math, the system I use to make my handouts is called LaTeX, and it can be downloaded for free (in Windows format) at http://www.miktex.org. If you own a Mac (system OS X) or a Linux computer, you already own a copy of this program, as it's been a standard Unix program for about 20 years. And for our purposes, the key point is that under any system, LaTeX can produce pdf output that is ideal for online homework submission.
LaTeX is well worth learning, if you have some free time; it's used for manuals and technical reports throughout nerd-dom. For self-study, I highly recommend the LaTeX book by Leslie Lamport, which you can purchase here.
In the box below are some acronyms that I use all the time, both in class and when grading your work. You are welcome to use them as well.
Course mechanics: Homework in Math 142, Check-ins, Model for how the outline for PS01 is supposed to go.
Course content: The big board of balls in boxes; Solving recurrence relations.
Background: Writing proofs (optional).Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3, Final exam.
Exam 1, Exam 2. No sample for exam 3.
None yet.
Click here for the central file of all in-class activities, or see below for links to selected days.
| Date | Handout/link |
| Wed Sep 21 | Introduction to counting |
| Mon Sep 26 | Arrangements and selections (slots) |
| Wed Sep 28 | Arrangements and selections (dividers) |
| Mon Oct 03 | Distributions |
| Wed Oct 05 | Binomial identities |
| Mon Oct 24 | Finding coefficients of generating functions |
| Wed Oct 26 | Finding coefficients of generating functions |
| HW | Outline due | Outline defns from | Due date | Last revision due | Problems to turn in |
| PS00 | n/a | n/a | Mon Aug 29 | n/a | See handout. |
| PS01 | Wed Aug 24 | 1.1-1.2 | Mon Aug 29 | Fri Oct 21 | See handout. |
| PS02 | Wed Aug 31 | 1.3-1.4, 2.1 | Wed Sep 07 | Tue Nov 22 | See handout. |
| PS03 | Wed Sep 14 | 2.2-2.3 | Fri Sep 16 | Tue Nov 22 | See handout (REVISED TUE SEP 13). |
| PS04 | Wed Sep 28 | 5.1, 5.2 | Mon Oct 03 | Mon Dec 05 | See handout. |
| PS05 | Wed Oct 05 | 5.3, 5.4 | Mon Oct 10 | Mon Dec 05 | See handout. |
| PS06 | Thu Oct 13 | 5.5, 6.1 | Wed Oct 19 | Mon Dec 05 | See handout. |
| PS07 | Thu Oct 27 | 6.2, 6.3 | Tue Nov 01 | Mon Dec 05 | See handout. |
| PS08 | Thu Nov 03 | 7.1, 7.2 | Tue Nov 08 | Mon Dec 05 | See handout. |
| PS09 | Thu Nov 10 | 7.3, 7.4 | Tue Nov 15 | Mon Dec 05 | See handout. |
| PS10 | Thu Dec 01 | 7.5, 8.1, 8.2 | Tue Dec 06 | TBA | See handout. |
| Homework: | 20% |
| Exam 1: | 14% |
| Exams 2 & 3: | 18% each |
| Final: | 30% |