UCLA Olga Radko Endowed Math Circle

ORMC Meetings • 2023-2024 Academic Year

 Search handouts:

For meetings prior to Fall 2023, visit the Circle Archive.

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6/25/2023

Students will learn about binary numbers and complements, as well as their application to computer systems. By the end of the lesson, students should understand the fundamentals of the two's complement representation for signed binary numbers.

Handouts: Handout | Solution
7/9/2023

We will review the basics of Boolean algebra.

Handouts: Handout | Solution
7/16/2023

We will review Boolean algebra properties and apply them to logic problems.

Handouts: Handout | Solution
7/23/2023

We will study Boolean algebra expressions in disjunctive normal form and use cubes of various dimensions to simplify them.

Handouts: Handout | Solution
7/30/2023

We will take a break from our normal material and have a fun competition.

Handouts: Handout | Answer Key
8/6/2023

Students will start learning the theory of permutations. The goal of this mini-course is to understand when the famous puzzle is solvable and when it's not.

Handouts: Handout | Answer Key
8/13/2023

We will continue our study on the 15 puzzle, delving more into permutations and learning taxicab geometry.

Handouts: Handout | Answer Key
8/20/2023
8/27/2023

We will learn basics of graph theory and consider various relevant theorems.

10/1/2023

We will warm up with some fun games and then introduce basic probability.

Homework: Finish the handout for week 1 (Problem 17 is optional).

10/8/2023

We introduce the concepts of factorial, permutations, and binomial coefficients, as well as their application to calculating probabilities.

Homework: Problem 1-12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 21 from the handout.

10/15/2023

Class Logistics:

We will meet from 4 to 6 pm at Math Sciences 3974.

Class Plan:

We will start with a review of combinatorics from last week. We will then learn how to use combinatorics to calculate probabilities.

Required Resources:

Pencils, eraser and scratch paper.

Homework Assigned (Due Oct 22):

Problem 1-17 on the handout below. Reading on the first half of Page 9 is optional.

Contact Information

Email zhenye@ucla.edu and will652397@gmail.com if you have any questions.

10/22/2023

Class Logistics:

We will meet from 4 to 6 pm at Math Sciences 3974.

Class Plan:

We will explore some fun logic puzzles as well as some challenging mathematical games.

Required Resources:

Pencils, eraser and scratch paper.

Homework Assigned:

No homework this week.

Contact Information

Email zhenye@ucla.edu and will652397@gmail.com if you have any questions.

10/29/2023

Class Logistics:

We will meet from 4 to 6 pm at Math Sciences 3974.

Class Plan:

We will do competition-type math problems and introduce some problem-solving techniques.

Required Resources:

Pencils, eraser and scratch paper.

Homework Assigned (Due Nov. 5):

Problem 1-8 on the handout.

Contact Information

Email zhenye@ucla.edu and will652397@gmail.com if you have any questions.

11/5/2023

Class Logistics:

We will meet from 4 to 6 pm at Math Sciences 3974.

Class Plan:

We will introduce the concept of sets and do some basic set theory.

Required Resources:

Pencils, eraser and scratch paper.

Homework Assigned (Due Nov. 19):

Finish all problems on the handout.

Contact Information

Email zhenye@ucla.edu and will652397@gmail.com if you have any questions.

11/19/2023

Class Logistics:

We will meet from 4 to 6 pm at Math Sciences 3974.

Class Plan:

We will review the basic concepts of set theory, and introduce power set and Cartesian products.

Required Resources:

Pencils, eraser and scratch paper.

Homework Assigned (Due Dec. 3):

Finish the handout

Contact Information

Email zhenye@ucla.edu and will652397@gmail.com if you have any questions.

12/3/2023

Class Logistics:

We will meet from 4 to 6 pm at Math Sciences 3974.

Class Plan:

We will study functions between sets.

Required Resources:

Pencils, eraser and scratch paper.

Homework Assigned:

TBD

Contact Information

Email zhenye@ucla.edu and will652397@gmail.com if you have any questions.