[Email sent on November 20, 1999, best viewed with a 
non-proportionally-spaced font like Courier.]


"The Problem Children"?
"Problems R Us"?
"The Problematics"?
"No Problemo (makes us sad)"?


(What's going on here?  Is this spam?)


Here's the idea:  Let's form a math problem group.  There's no 12-step
program involved.  You only need to like thinking about catchy little 
math problems for their own sakes (and yours).

Sometime this weekend I'll plop copies of some problems into an 
envelope outside of Pardee 224; come by and pick them up whenever 
you'd like to.  Maybe work on them over the break, or just doodle 
something on the back of the sheet.  A great time to come by and 
pick up a copy will be

	This Monday, from 4:30 until 5:00.

That's when you can meet other people doing exactly the same thing.
Also, we can discuss some of the problems initially if you want to, 
and we can try to come up with better time slots in the week to meet, 
looking ahead toward the spring term.  One idea would be to have 
some semi-regular meetings -- every week or two? -- in the
spring to discuss problems from previous weeks, as well as start 
some new ones if we're feeling spunky enough.  It's up to you!

If you can't make it on Monday but have even the slightest interest
in future meetings at other times, let me know what times in the week
might be good for you in the spring.

Oh, yeah:  we need a name.

Cheers,
Derek and the many other interested math faculty members



*****

Here's a problem:

How many different ways are there to get from Lafayette to 
Thanksgiving Turkey if each road is either one-way south 
or one-way east and you don't want to visit Lehigh or The Gap?


Lafayette ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- +
        |       |       |       |       |       |       |
        |       |       |       |       |       |       |
        + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- +       N
        |       |       |       |       |       |       |    
        |       |       |       |       |       |       |       ^
        + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----Lehigh----+ ----- +       |
        |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
        |       |       |       |       |       |       |
        + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- +
        |       |       |       |       |       |       | 
        |    The Gap    |       |       |       |       |
        |       |       |       |       |       |       |
        + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- + ----- T.T.