Alexander Knop
S.E. Warschawski Assistant Professor
Research interests:
Proof complexity, structural complexity, differential privacy.
En Ru

For UCSD students
Math 152 (Applicable Math and Computing)

Spring, 2018 Winter, 2020

Links

Information

Textbook:
The textbook for this course is: Thomas S. Ferguson, Game Theory, Second Edition, 2014
Grading policy:
Student's cumulative average will be computed by taking the maximum of these two grading schemes:
  • 10% Homework, 25% Midterm I, 25% Midterm II, 40% Final Exam
  • 10% Homework, 30% maximum of Midterm I and Midterm II, 60% Final Exam
Homework:
Homework is a very important part of the course and in order to fully master the topics it is essential that you work carefully on every assignment and try your best to complete every problem.
Your total homework score will be based on the total possible homework points available. After each homework you can complete an optional online HW review highlighting key concepts. If you complete the questionnaire for an assignment and that assignment is your lowest homework score, that score will be dropped from your homework average.
Homework may be done alone or in a group of at most 5 people. Partners may be in any of the sections of the class. You are free to change partners between assignments. Problems should be solved together, not divided up between partners. For homework help, consult your textbook, class notes, lecturer, and TAs. It is considered a violation of the policy on academic integrity to:
  • look or ask for answers to homework problems in other texts or sources, including the internet, or to
  • discuss the homework problems with anyone outside of your group (unless you are in office hours with someone from the instructional team).
Homework solutions should be neatly written or typed and turned in through Gradescope by 11pm on Friday. Illegible assignments will not be graded. For step-by-step instructions on scanning and uploading your homework, see this handout. Late homeworks will not be accepted. Submit early drafts well before the deadline to make sure partial work is graded.
Discussion Board:
The Piazza forum for our class where questions can be posted and answered. It is a very helpful resource!

Office Hours

  • 5880B, AP&M building,
    • Monday: 12-1 PM
    • Wednesday: 2-3 PM
    • Friday: 12-1 PM

Teaching assistants

  • Nandagopal Ramachandran,
    6446, AP&M building:
    • Tuesday: 5-6 PM
    • Thursday: 3:30-4:30 PM
  • Kyle Meyer,
    6444, AP&M building:
    • Monday: 4:30-6:30 PM
    • Wednesday: 11:00-1:00 PM
  • Renee Mirka,
    6446, AP&M building:
    • Monday 2-3 PM
    • Wednesday 11 AM-12
  • Suhan Zhong,
    5412, AP&M building,:
    • Tuesday: 1-3 PM
  • Samuel Spiro,
    6446, AP&M building,:
    • Monday: 4-5 PM
    • Friday: 11 AM-12

Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
March 25 March 26 March 27 March 28 March 29 March 30
César Chávez Holiday
March 31
April 01 April 02
I.1 Combinatorial Games
Discussion
April 03 April 04
I.1 Combinatorial Games
April 05 April 06
I.2 The Game of Nim
April 07
April 08 April 09
I.2 The Game of Nim
Discussion
April 10 April 11
I.2 The Game of Nim
April 12 April 13
I.3 Graph Games
April 14
April 15 April 16
I.3 Graph Games
Discussion
April 17 April 18
Catch up Review
April 19 April 20
Midterm I
April 21
April 22 April 23
I.4 Sums of Combinatorial Games
Discussion
April 24 April 25
I.4 Sums of Combinatorial Games
April 26 April 27
I.4 Sums of Combinatorial Games
April 28
April 29 April 30
II.1,II.2 Matrix Games
Discussion
May 01 May 02
II.1,II.2 Matrix Games
May 03 May 04
II.1 Pareto Optimality
May 05
May 06 May 07
II.1 Nash Equilibria
Discussion
May 08 May 09
II.1 Nash Equilibria
May 10 May 11
II.1 Nash Equilibria
May 12
May 13 May 14
II.1 The Minimax Theorem
Discussion
May 15 May 16
Catch up Review
May 17 May 18
Midterm II
May 19
May 20 May 21
II.1 The Minimax Theorem
Discussion
May 22 May 23
Yao's minimax principle
May 24 May 25
Yao's minimax principle
May 26
May 27 May 28
Memorial Day observance
Discussion
May 29 May 30
Yao's minimax principle
May 31 June 01
Yao's minimax principle
June 02
June 03 June 04
Yao's minimax principle
Discussion
June 05 June 06
Biological Systems and Games
June 07 June 08
Catch up Review
June 09
June 10 June 11 June 12 June 13 June 14
Final Exam
June 15 June 16