Strong background in combinatorics and familiarity with proofs.
Analysis and 18.701 are strongly recommended.
Background in fourier analysis recommended.
Subject Matter
Theoretical and broad.
Useful for further study and research.
Course Staff
Students reported approachable course staff.
Lectures
Lectures, problem sets and textbook complemented each other well.
Lectures were a bit fast but good for understanding.
Problem Sets
Psets were challenging, long, and required creativity.
Students reported working with classmates to complete psets.
Psets significantly helped students understand course content.
Exams
No exams.
Resources
Professor Zhao held OH each week a pset is due; he provided substantial direction for psets.
Professor Zhao provided a textbook and list of references that complemented lectures and psets.
Students reported a desire for more office hours.
Grading
Students reported difficulty understanding what graders were looking for.
Students reported tough grading on psets.
Advice to Future Students
”Try the starred problems! Especially if you’re aiming for A or A+, be prepared to spend a LOT of time on starred problems, but they are absolutely worth attempting (even if you don’t solve them).”
“Understand that the class requires a lot of hours of work, even if you just want to pass.”
”Try the starred problems! Especially if you’re aiming for A or A+, be prepared to spend a LOT of time on starred problems, but they are absolutely worth attempting (even if you don’t solve them).”