Math 301: Introduction to Combinatorial Theory
Colorado State University, Fall 2016
Instructor: Henry Adams
Email: henry dot adams at colostate dot edu
Office: Weber 125
Office Hours:
- Wednesdays 3:00-4:30 in Engineering E106,
- or by appointment.
Lectures: MWF 2:00-2:50pm in Engineering E105
Textbook: Discrete Mathematics: Elementary and Beyond by László Lovász, József Pelikán, and Katalin Vesztergombi.
List of typos
Overview: This course is an introduction to combinatorics. Topics covered include combinations, permutations, sets, induction, inclusion and exclusion, the pigeonhole principle, binomial coefficients, recurrence, prime numbers, graph theory, and trees. Additional topics will be chosen from Euler's formula, finite geometries, cryptography, and Ramsey's theorem.
Syllabus: Here is the course syllabus.
Book
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Update from 2023: Together with Kelly Emmrich, Maria Gillespie, Shannon Golden, and Rachel Pries, I wrote the book Counting Rocks! An Introduction to Combinatorics (2023). This book has been used for the class Math 301, Introduction to Combinatorial Theory, at Colorado State University. [Book Webpage, Book PDF, Videos] |
Homework
Homework 1 (LaTeX Source) is due Friday, August 26.Homework 2 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, September 2.
Homework 3 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, September 9.
Homework 4 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, September 16.
Homework 5 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, September 23.
Homework 6 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, October 7.
Homework 7 (LaTeX source)is due Friday, October 14.
Homework 8 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, October 21.
Homework 9 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, October 28.
Homework 10 (LaTeX source) is due Monday, November 14.
Homework 11 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, November 18.
Homework 12 (LaTeX source) is due Friday, December 2.
Homework 13 (LaTeX source) is due never.
Exams
The exams will be in-class. You will only be able to use your brain and a pen or pencil - no notes, books, or electronic devices. The exams will be comprehensive, except that Midterm 2 will emphasize the material after Midterm 1, and the Final will emphasize the material after Midterm 2. Here is Practice Midterm 1(a).
Here is Practice Midterm 1(b).
Here is Midterm 1.
Here is Practice Midterm 2(a).
Here is Practice Midterm 2(b).
Here is Midterm 2.
Here is Practice Final A.
Here is Practice Final B.
Schedule
| Date | Class Topic | Remark |
| Aug 22 | Introduction and course overview | |
| Aug 24 | §1.1, 1.2 | |
| Aug 26 | §1.2, 1.3 | Homework 1 due |
| Aug 29 | §1.3, 1.5 | |
| Aug 31 | §1.6, 1.7 | |
| Sept 2 | §1.8 | Homework 2 due |
| Sept 5 | Holiday - no class! | |
| Sept 7 | §2.1 | Last day to drop or change grading option |
| Sept 9 | §2.4 | Homework 3 due |
| Sept 12 | §3.1 | |
| Sept 14 | §3.2, 3.3 | |
| Sept 16 | §3.4 | Homework 4 due |
| Sept 19 | §3.5, 3.6 | |
| Sept 21 | §4.1 | |
| Sept 23 | §4.2 | Homework 5 due |
| Sept 26 | §4.3 | |
| Sept 28 | Review | |
| Sept 30 | Midterm #1 | Midterm through §3.6 |
| Oct 3 | §6.1, 6.2 | |
| Oct 5 | §6.3 | |
| Oct 7 | §6.4 | Homework 6 due |
| Oct 10 | §6.6 | |
| Oct 12 | §6.7, 6.8 | |
| Oct 14 | §6.8 and public key cryptography | Homework 7 due |
| Oct 17 | §7.1 | End of course withdrawal period |
| Oct 19 | §7.2 | |
| Oct 21 | §7.3 | Homework 8 due |
| Oct 24 | §12.1 | |
| Oct 26 | §12.2 | |
| Oct 28 | §12.3 | Homework 9 due |
| Oct 31 | §8.1,8.2 | |
| Nov 2 | Review | |
| Nov 4 | Midterm #2 | Midterm through §7.3 |
| Nov 7 | §8.2, 8.3 | |
| Nov 9 | §8.4 | |
| Nov 11 | Class cancelled | |
| Nov 14 | §8.4 | Homework 10 due |
| Nov 16 | §9.1 | |
| Nov 18 | §9.2 | Homework 11 due |
Fall Recess, Nov 21-25 | ||
| Nov 28 | §13.1 | |
| Nov 30 | §13.2 | |
| Dec 2 | §13.3 | Homework 12 due |
| Dec 5 | §13.4 | |
| Dec 7 | Review and class picture | |
| Dec 7 | Dinner at Henry's! | |
| Dec 9 | Review | |
Final Exam, Tuesday December 13 |
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| 4:10-6:10pm in Engineering E105 | ||