Discrete Math Camp for Talented High School Students

Summer 2008

Students who enjoy solving puzzles, figuring out things, and learning mathematics are invited to apply to this camp to broaden their knowledge in the area of discrete mathematics. Inquiry-based exploration and group problem solving will be emphasized.

Sample Problems to be Investigated:

What is the best way to visit all the cities in MT?
Why does a full house beat a flush in poker?
How many ways can the cubes of Instant Insanity™ be stacked?
How many 1x1 squares and 1x2 dominoes can be laid down on a 1xn board?
How many ways can 10 pieces of candy be distributed to 4 people?
In any group of 6 people, is it true that there is a collection of 3 of them that know mutually each other or a collection of 3 who mutually don’t know each other? (We assume if I know you, then you know me.)
How many colors do you need to color the plane so that pairs of points that are a distance one apart receive different colors? (The answer is unknown.)

When? 2 week session, July 7-11, July 14-18; 9am-12pm
Where? The University of Montana Mathematics Building
Who? H.S. students should have a strong mathematical foundation and have finished 9th grade or higher. (Students who have completed the 12th grade are welcome to attend, students who have completed 8th grade should contact the instructor.)
Cost? $425 This includes instruction and all course materials.
College Credi? A student can elect to earn 2 colleges credit from UM for an additional fee of $135.

Topics: Enumeration (combinations, permutations, pigeonhole principle, inclusion/exclusion), Famous Families of Numbers (Fibonacci, Catalan, Binomial Coefficients, Stirling Numbers, Partition Numbers), Graph Theory (Shortest Path Algorithms, Traveling Salesman Algorithm, Ramsey Theory)

Camp Registration MS word pdf
Camp Flyer (printable)

Discrete Math Links

Instructor: Professor Jenny McNulty is a professor at UM whose research and teaching interests are in discrete mathematics. Professor McNulty has many years experience teaching mathematics at the University of Montana as well as in summer math camps at Rutgers University and Duke University.

Contact Information
Instrctor: Dr. Jenny McNulty
Office: Univiersity of Montana Math Building 7C
Phone: 406-243-2473, E-mail, Web page