Math 8668: Combinatorial theory
(Graduate combinatorics, 1st semester)
Fall 2019
Instructor: |
Sam Hopkins (call me "Sam") Office: Vincent Hall 204 E-mail: shopkins@umn.edu |
||||||||||||
Classes: |
Mon-Wed-Fri 2:30-3:20pm, Ford Hall B60 | ||||||||||||
Office hours: |
Mon-Wed: 10:00-11:00am, Vincent Hall 204 | ||||||||||||
Course content: |
This is the first semester of the two semester Math 8668-69 sequence; Math 8669 will be taught by Chris Fraser in Spring 2020. We will study basic combinatorial objects (subsets, multisets, permutations, set/number partitions, compositions, graphs, trees, etc.), their enumeration, and additional structures they carry (such as partial orders). Roughly speaking we'll discuss this in the 1st semester:
|
||||||||||||
Prerequisites: |
Calculus, linear algebra, undergraduate algebra (groups, rings, fields) | ||||||||||||
Main text: |
R.P. Stanley, Enumerative combinatorics, Vol. I, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press. Available as a pdf online here. | ||||||||||||
Other nice sources: |
F. Ardila, Algebraic and geometric methods in enumerative combinatorics, Part I. H. Wilf, generatingfunctionology D. Stanton and D. White, Constructive combinatorics N. Loehr, Bijective combinatorics |
||||||||||||
Class notes: |
Batch 1; Batch 2; Batch 3; Batch 4; Batch 5 | ||||||||||||
Grading: |
There will be 3 homework assignments for the semester. The grading of the assignments will depend on both the quality and quantity of homework turned in. Beyond that, I expect you to show up to class and be engaged. Collaboration on the homework is encouraged, as long as each person understands the solutions, writes them up in their own words, and indicates with whom they collaborated. |
||||||||||||
Homework assignments: |
Problems will be exercises from Stanley's EC1, or these bonus problems (BPs) I wrote.
|