Alexander Knop
S.E. Warschawski Assistant Professor
Research interests:
Proof complexity, structural complexity, algorithms, cryptography.

For UCSD students
Math 152 (Applicable Math and Computing)

2018

Tests

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 with at most four partners. Partners may be in any of the sections of Math 152. 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 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. 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

    • 5880A, 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