Learning Mathematics for Putnam

[Spatium]

Hey guys I'm just looking for some guidance on how best to go about learning the mathematics that would be required to do well on the Putnam.

I've wanted to get involved in the competition (just finished my first year of undergrad), but I chickened out of taking it this year as looking at some of the previous problems showed me I would probably be wasting 6 hours of my time.

I'm in Engineering Physics and I won't get a lot of chances to take proof-intensive math courses until third year and that would leave me with only one try at the competition so I'd like to learn some on my own out of interest anyway.

Do you think it would be best to just go about learning the topics more in depth (ie. going through Spivak's Calculus), or more specifically material that is "devoted" to the Putnam (some kind of preparation guide maybe?).

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[wilsont23274]

If you're looking to prepare for the Putnam, it's best to start by familiarizing yourself with the material covered in previous contests. This can be done by studying the problems from past Putnam tests, as well as reading the solutions for each problem. You should also look into textbooks and online resources that focus on the topics covered on the Putnam (such as the classic "Putnam and Beyond" by Richard Rusczyk). Additionally, it would be beneficial to practice solving similar types of problems, such as those found in math competitions such as the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) or the International Math Olympiad (IMO). Finally, it would be worthwhile to explore other resources that cover more advanced topics such as real analysis, algebra, topology, and complex analysis.