| ABOUT THE COURSE |
| BASIC INFORMATION |
| ASSESSMENT |
| LATE ASSIGNMENTS |
| HOMEWORK |
| QUIZZES |
| EXAMS |
| SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL |
| CONDUCT |
NOTE: all course policies announced here are subject to change before the first day of semester!
About the course
Combinatorics is the study of finite or countable discrete structures. ``Discrete'' here means that the structures are made up of distinct and separated parts (in contrast to ``continuous'' structures such as the real line). Combinatorics is an area of mathematics that has been increasing in importance in recent decades, in part because of the advent of digital computers (which operate and store data discretely), and in part because of the recent ubiquity of large discrete networks (social, biological, ecological, ...). Typical objects studied in combinatorics include permutations (arrangements of distinct objects in various different orders), graphs (networks consisting of nodes, some pairs of which are joined), and finite sets and their subsets. There are many subfields of combinatorics, such as enumerative (e.g., in how many ways can n objects in a row be rearranged, such that no object is returned to its original position?), structural (e.g., when is it possible to travel around a network, visiting each edge once and only once?), and extremal (e.g., what's the largest number of subsets of a set of size n that can be choosen in such a way that any two of them have at least one element in common?). In this course, we will explore each of these aspects of combinatorics, and maybe some more as time permits. Back to the top of the page Basic information
Back to the top of the page Assessment
Back to the top of the page Late assignments
All homework must be done by the due date to receive credit, and all quizzes and exams must be taken at the assigned times. I will not consider requests for homework extensions, or make-up quizzes and/or exams, except in the case of legitimate, university-sanctioned conflicts. It is your responsibility to let me know the full details of these conflicts before they cause you to miss an assignment! Excepting university-sanctioned conflicts, it is your responsibility to be in class for all scheduled lectures. Back to the top of the page Homework
Homework assignments will be posted here in a single file that will be updated throughout the semester. This file will also be where homework solutions are posted. The weekly homework is an important part of the course; it gives you a chance to think more deeply about the material, and to go from seeing (in lectures) to doing. It's also your opportunity to show me that you are engaging with the course topics. Homework is an essential part of your learning in this course, so please take it very
seriously. It is extremely important that you keep up with the homework, as if you do not, you may quickly
fall behind in class and find yourself at a disadvantage during exams. You should treat the homework as a learning
opportunity, rather than something you need to get out of the way. Reread, revise, and polish
your solutions until they are correct, concise, efficient, and elegant. This will really deepen your
understanding of the material. I encourage you to talk with your colleagues about homework problems, but your final write-up must be your own work. Homework solutions should be complete (and in particular presented in complete sentences), with all significant steps justified. The homework solutions should be written on the blank space provided in homework file. Back to the top of the page Quizzes
Quizzes will be posted here in a single file that will be updated throughout the semester. This file will also be where homework solutions are posted. Back to the top of the page
Nothing to report yet.
Back to the top of the page Supplementary material
Here is where I will post any supplementary material for the course, such as slides that I go over in class.
Back to the top of the page Conduct
Honor code: You have all taken the Honor Code pledge, to not participate in or tolerate
academic dishonesty. For this course, that means that although you may (and should) discuss assignments
with your colleagues, you must write the final version of each of your assignments on your own; if you use
any external sources to assist you (such as other textbooks, computer programmes, etc.), you should cite
them clearly; your work on the mid-semester exam and the final exam should be your own; and you will adhere
to all announced exam policies. Class conduct: The lecture room should be a place where you should feel free to engage in
lively discussion about the course topic; don't be shy! But non course related interruptions should
be kept to a minimum. In particular, you should turn off or switch to silent all phones, etc.,
before the start of class. If for some good reason you need to have your phone on during class, please
mention it to me in advance. A general comment: Like many other endeavors (such as driving a car or mastering a piece of software), mathematics is something that you learn by doing. Attending class and reading the appropriate sections of the textbook is very important, but isn't enough to do well. After each lecture you should work through every example and proof from your class notes. Don't be perturbed if you have to re-read and re-do some topics many times before you begin to feel that you are mastering them. That is just how mathematical learning goes. It's a slow process, but a worthwhile one. If after struggling with a topic you still feel like you are making no headway, don't give up! Leave it aside for a while to let your unconscious brain work on it. Then go back to it, and talk it over with you colleagues, and come talk to me. It's what I'm here for! Back to the top of the page
and will count for 150 points out of 450. Specific information about the final exam, such as where it will be held, and what to do in the case of a conflict, will be announced in class during the final week of the semester.
Exams