Problem of the Week

James Madison University
Department of Mathematics and Statistics


Rules: The "Problem of the Week" is a weekly puzzle or problem of a mathematical nature which should be accessible to most students of "Calculus Age" and up. Each problem has a deadline two weeks from the date it is posted. Once the deadline for a problem has passed, the author of the best solution will receive a $5.00 gift certificate from Dave's Taverna. If there is more than one acceptable solution, the winner will be chosen at random from those.

Stay well-fed; solve the problem of the week.


Problems for Fall 2004:

  • POW #1: Bit Strings
    • Posted 8/25/04, due 9/8/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: Shane Woolf
    • Also submitted correct answers: Michelle Panasiewicz.

  • POW #2: A Bit More About Bit Strings
    • Posted 9/1/04, due 9/15/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: Shane Woolf
    • Also submitted correct answers: None!

  • POW #3: Rational or Irrational?
    • Posted 9/8/04, due 9/22/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: Matthew Musgrave
    • Also submitted correct answers: Ryan Charest, John Szarka, Shane Woolf.

  • POW #4: Circle or Square?
    • Posted 9/15/04, due 9/29/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: Martin Lehman
    • Also submitted correct answers: Ryan Charest.

  • POW #5: Shotgun!
    • Posted 9/29/04, due 10/13/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: Ryan Charest
    • Also submitted correct answers: Matthew Musgrave, John Szarka.

  • POW #6: Mr. X Rolls a Die
    • Posted 10/6/04, due 10/20/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: John Szarka
    • Also submitted correct answers: None.

  • POW #7: George's Shoes
    • Posted 10/13/04, due 11/3/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: Ryan Charest
    • Also submitted correct answers: John Szarka.

  • POW #8: Algebra!
    • Posted 10/27/04, due 11/10/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: Ryan Charest
    • Also submitted correct answers (almost): Nick Giffen, John Suarez

  • POW #9: Moving Twinkies
    • Posted 11/9/04, due 11/23/04
    • The problem
    • The solution
    • The winner: John Szarka
    • Also submitted correct answers (almost): Ashley King





Problems of the Week for the current semester



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