MTH 481 Discrete Mathematics I Spring 2012

Syllabus and Schedule

Course page. http://www.math.msu.edu/~magyar/Math481 .

The dates below are tentative. Changes will be announced in class and on our course page.

Section numbers refer to Harris, Hirst, Mossinghoff, Combinatorics and Graph Theory (2nd ed). We will cover Part 2 of the book, then selections from Part 1. Homework will be assigned weekly on the Course page.

WeekDateSection: Topic



1/9 2. Introduction, set notation
11/11 2.1. Some essential problems: n!, nk, (n | k), multinomial coefficients
1/13 Fourth problem: multi-sets ((n | k)), stretching transformation

1/16 M.L. King Day, no class
21/18 2.2. Properties of binomial coefficients, (n | k) = (n | n−k)
1/20 2.2. Pascal's triangle, binomial theorem, position transformation

1/23 2.5. Principle of inclusion-exclusion (PIE)
31/25 2.5. Examples of PIE, positive vs. negative counting
1/27 2.6. Generating functions, binomial theorem & logical algebra.

1/30 2.6.1. Generating function for double decks
42/1 2.6.2. Generating function for multi-sets: ∑k≥0 ((n | k)) xk = 1/(1−x)n
2/3 2.6.3. Changing money
Last day to drop course with tuition refund

2/6 2.6.4. Fibonacci numbers
52/8 2.6.5. Recurrence relations
2/10 2.6.6. Catalan numbers and convolution

2/13 2.6.6 Catalan numbers: models
62/15 2.7.1. Groups
2/17 2.7.2. Burnside lemma

2/20 Counting with symmetry examples
72/22 Review
2/24 Review

2/27 Midterm exam
82/29 Review of exam
Last day to drop course with no grade reported
3/2 1.1.1. Graph definitions

3/3-11Spring Break, no classes

3/12 1.1.2. Graph basics, connectedness
93/14 1.1.3. Special graphs, bipartite graphs
3/16 1.3.1 & 1.3.2. Tree basics

3/19 1.3.4. Counting trees, Cayley theorem nn-2
103/21 1.4. Konigsberg problem and Euler circuits
3/23 1.5.1. Planar graphs

3/26 1.5.2. Euler formula n − m + r = 2; region degree inequality gr ≤ 2m
113/28 1.5.4. Kuratowski theorem
3/30 1.5.4. Kuratowski theorem

4/2 1.5.3. Platonic solids
124/4 1.5.3. Platonic solids
4/6 1.4.1, 1.4.2. Graph coloring

4/9 1.4.3. Four Color Theorem
134/11 1.4.4. Chromatic polynomial
4/13 Review

4/16 Unlabelled trees: ∑n≥1 rnxn   =   x ∏k≥1 (1−xk)−rk
144/18 Unlabelled trees
4/20 Unlabelled trees

4/23 Review
154/25 Review
4/27 Review, evaluation

5/4 Final exam Fri 10am-12noon, Wells C-308