Mathematics BSc
Course description
2013.

Elementary mathematics 1
Hours
lect+pc
Credits
lect+pc
Assessment Specialization Course code
lect/pc
Semester Status
0 + 2 0 + 3 term grade all mm1c2em1 1 compulsory
Remarks
  • Requirements: Two midterm tests, homeworks. The students also have to hand in the detailed soultion of a problem from the mathematical journal for secondary school students, KöMaL.
Syllabus designed by:
Prerequisites
High school mathematics.
Course objectives
Acquiring knowledge in problem solving based on secondary (middle) school curriculum and developing mathematical thinking skills. We discuss problems from national and international mathematical competitions: e.g., International Mathematical Olympiad, Putnam Mathematical Competition, All-Soviet-Union Mathematical Competition, etc.
Literature
  • György Pólya: How to solve it, A new aspect of mathematical method. Princeton University Press, 1945.
  • György Pólya: Mathematical Discovery. On understanding, Learning, and Teaching Problem Solving. John Wiley and Sons, 1962.
Syllabus
In accordance with the Hungarian tradition of mathematical education, which is based on problem solving, the basic topics of secondary school mathematics (such as logic, number sets, functions, arithmetic and number theory, algebra, geometry, probability theory, statistics) are studied through solving problems. Several sorts of problem solving methods are discussed, analyzed, practiced and compared.