Mathematics Department - Honors

Honors



This semester, Spring 2011, the SAS Honors section of Topics in Mathematics for the Liberal Arts will cover quite different subject matter than in previous semesters. In its current format it will investigate many of the same topics as the non-honors sections of Math 103, but in greater depth, and focusing on topics of political and philosophical interest.

Every section of Math 103 is intended to offer an engaging introduction to how mathematics is applied in a variety of real world contexts. The hope is that the course will cohere well with students' overall programs of study, even if the mathematical or natural sciences are not their primary interest.

The SAS Honors section of the course will cover the mathematics of social choice (the formal study of the merits and flaws of different systems for a group to choose among several alternatives, such as candidates in an election), manipulability of voting systems, weighted voting systems (how much power does each party really have in a parliamentary system?), electing the president, fair division of goods (if siblings inherit an estate, what is a fair way to divide it?), apportionment (e.g. of congressional districts to states following a census), and game theory (mathematical aspects of cooperation and competition). Students will not be left wondering, "what does this have to do with real life?"



Not usable as an elective toward the Math major or minor.



Syllabus

Sample: Fall 2006


Upcoming Semester: Fall 2009

Instructor: Wesley Pegden. (course website)
See schedule on 103 course page.


Previous semester resources

Frequently used textbook:
Thomas H. Barr; Invitation to Cryptology, Prentice-Hall, 2002 (396 pp.); (ISBN: 0-13-088976-8).
The textbook will not be used in the Fall 2009 semester. The course packet will be handed out in class. (See the course website for details.)




Regular sections of Math 103 (Topics in Mathematics)



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This material is posted by the faculty of the Mathematics Department at Rutgers New Brunswick for informational purposes. While we try to maintain it, information may not be current or may not apply to individual sections. The authority for content, textbook, syllabus, and grading policy lies with the current instructor.

Information posted prior to the beginning of the semester is frequently tentative, or based on previous semesters. Textbooks should not be purchased until confirmed with the instructor. For generally reliable textbook information—with the exception of sections with an alphabetic code like H1 or T1, and topics courses (197,395,495)—see the textbook list.

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