C&O 430/630 Final Exam

Thursday December 9, 2010

9:00am-11:30am
Instructions

• There are 20 questions. You may answer any subset of them.

• I will compute your mark using the following scheme. First, I will assign a mark
0 ≤ mi ≤ 1 for each question. Then I will compute:
( 20  )
X mσ(i) 
max  σ ∈ S20 .
i=1
i 

This will be converted to a percentage by multiplying by 30.

• What are the implications of this?

– For a mark of 80%, it is enough to answer 8 questions correctly.

– For a mark of 90%, you should be aiming for 11 or more.
– A mark of 100% corresponds to about 15 correct solutions.
– Questions that are done well automatically become worth more than questions
with incorrect or incomplete solutions. Your best strategy is to solve questions
that you know how to answer, rather than write bits and pieces for each problem.
– The marking scheme is strictly monotone. Hence, partial work cannot count
against you in any way. Two “half solutions” counts for just as much as half of
two “whole solutions”, just like a any other exam. However, one whole solution
is always worth more.

• Any points in excess of 100% will be distributed equitably amongst your classmates.

• No calculators, notes or other aids allowed.

• For full credit all answers should clearly written and reasonably justified. I should
be able to follow your reasoning. Where appropriate, you may cite any theorem from
class, or any well known result.

• Time is short. A picture is worth a thousand words. (If you can save time and avoid
long descriptions by drawing a few simple diagrams, please do so.)