MATH 580 / CS 571

COMBINATORIAL MATHEMATICS, Fall 2007

This is a graduate-level introduction to the fundamental ideas and results of combinatorics. The course moves quickly but does not assume prior study in combinatorics. It is intended for graduate students from mathematics or related areas wanting a good one-semester background in fundamental and applicable discrete mathematics. It also provides solid preparation for advanced combinatorics courses and for various courses in computer science.

Roughly the first third of the courses discusses elementary enumeration, covering and going beyond Math 413. The middle third discusses graph theory, presenting the main results of Math 412. The remainder touches on topics that are explored more fully in later courses (581, 582, 583, 584), including Ramsey theory, partially ordered sets, the probabilistic method, and combinatorial designs.

NOTE: The FALL 2007 edition of the text will be available at TIS Bookstore (707 S. 6th St.), for about $45-50. It comes in two pieces. The course meets MWF at 2pm in 441 Altgeld Hall.

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