Introduction

This course provides a graduate-level introduction to combinatorics. Combinatorics studies discrete structures, often with an emphasis on their enumeration or construction.

Combinatorial methods are ubiquitous in mathematics (and allied disciplines). The emphasis in this course is on techniques, rather than individual, highlighted theorems, since it is often the combinatorial mindset which finds greatest application.

Syllabus

The first part of the course covers enumerative techniques; subsequently, we will turn our attention to discrete structures such as graphs. This is a qualifying exam course, and as such has an official syllabus.

A more detailed syllabus, indexed into the textbook, will be available shortly.

Prerequisites

Logistics:

Requirements and other expectations

University expectations for class behavior in general, and academic integrity in particular, are detailed here.

Help

This is challenging material; it's fully expected that sometimes you'll need a little help.

Questions directed to j.achter@colostate.edu will be answered swiftly. However, some questions are best answered in person. You can come by office hours or schedule an appointment.

This page is available at http://www.math.colostate.edu/~achter/501