2024 Summer Problem Solving Course

This asynchronous course will be conducted online from July 2 to August 16, 2024.

The Summer Problem Solving Course is hosted by the Centre for Education in Mathematics & Computing (CEMC) at the University of Waterloo.

The goal of this course is to develop students' mathematical problem-solving ability. Students will be introduced to various problem-solving techniques and will have the opportunity to practice these techniques in major topic areas during the course.

Audience

This course will be most appropriate for high school students who have completed at least Grade 11 university stream mathematics. It will be particularly useful for students who are considering studying one of the following disciplines at university: mathematics, computer science, engineering, or the physical sciences.

Dates

  • Course start date: July 2, 2024
  • Course end date: August 16, 2024
  • Registration will open: May 1, 2024
  • Registration will close: June 7, 2024

Format

The course will be held entirely online and will feature a series of self-guided videos, online discussion boards and weekly assessments to be completed. Weekly due dates for the submission of quizzes and assignments will be provided and online discussion boards will give students the opportunity to confer with classmates and seek guidance from course instructors.

Fee

Registration fee of $250 will need to be paid while signing up for the course. Please note that this fee is non-refundable.

Mathematical Content

Problem-solving techniques such as trying a simpler problem, considering cases, finding a pattern, and working backward, will be examined. A wide range of challenging problems will provide the opportunity to experience these important principles and strategies. The content in this course is a subset of what is found at https://cemc.uwaterloo.ca/resources/courseware/courseware.html in the Problem Solving and Mathematical Discovery courseware.