Combinatorics is concerned with the study of arrangements, patterns, designs, assignments, schedules, connections, and configurations. In the modern world, people in almost every area of activity find it necessary to solve problems of a combinatorial nature. (Roberts, p.1) This course is an introduction to the tools of combinatorics from an applied point of view.

Instructor:

Pamela Cutter Olds/Upton 203F, 337 - 7064 Office hours: Monday 1:00 - 2:30 pm Wednesday 9:00 - 10:00 am Friday 10:40 - 11:30 am (by chance) Other times by appointment - feel free to call x7064 or email Pam's weekly schedule

Required Text:	Roberts, Fred S., Applied Combinatorics, Prentice Hall, 1984.
Class Web Site:	http://max.cs.kzoo.edu/cs494/

Goals:   At the conclusion of this course, students should be familiar with concepts such as the three problems of combinatorics, the basic counting rules, generating functions, recurrence relations, the principle of inclusion/exclusion, experimental design, coding theory, and some combinatorial optimization, as well as applications of these concepts in computer science and other fields. Skills in problem solving and analysis should be stronger, and students should feel more comfortable reading and writing mathematics.

Prerequisites: MATH 250 and one computer science course (or by permission)

Topics to be covered (and tentative course schedule):

Grades will be based on:

Attendance and Participation:

Regular attendance and fully engaged participation is expected of all students in this course. In the case of any absence, whether excused or not, you are responsible for all the material covered in class. We may occasionally do in-class projects. If you are not in class, you cannot get credit for these projects. Active participation in the class means being on time, being prepared, listening to others, contributing ideas of your own, and asking questions as they come up.

Assignments, Collaboration, and the Honor Code:

This course operates in accordance with the principles of the Kalamazoo College Honor System: responsibility for personal behavior, independent thought, respect for others, and environmental responsibility. In particular, academic integrity is a fundamental principle of scholarship. Representing someone else's work as your own, in any form, constitutes academic dishonesty. Unauthorized collaboration and receiving help from others outside the bounds permitted by the instructor are also violations of the College honor code. You are responsible for working within the permitted bounds, and acknowledging any help from others or contributions from other sources.

Assignments, announcements, class notes, and other material will be made available on the course web site:

http://max.cs.kzoo.edu/cs494/ Students are responsible for checking this resource frequently.

Reading assignments and related exercises will be assigned for each class. You are expected to come to class having completed the assignment and being prepared to discuss both the ideas from the reading and your solutions to the exercises. You are encouraged to work together on these exercises; just be sure that each group member understands each answer well enough to present it to the class. When presenting an answer, you should acknowledge any help that you received.

Homework assignments from the textbook, and possibly elsewhere, will be assigned throughout the quarter. Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the designated due date. Late assignments will not be accepted, except under special circumstances with my advance permission.

If you get stuck on a homework problem or just want to see if you are heading in the right direction, I am quite willing to help you. You may also discuss the requirements, concepts, and overall strategies related to homework problems with your classmates, as long as you walk away from the discussion without notes. It is important that you write up your homework solutions individually, acknowledging any ideas from others that you have used. Organizing and writing up the solutions on your own ensures that you really understand the solution. Copying someone else's solution does not help you learn the material. Submitting a copied solution as your own work is plagiarism.

There will be several (at least 3) presentations assigned throughout the quarter. These will be opportunities to apply the language and concepts learned in class, and to explore other related concepts. At least one of these must be done individually; others may be done in pairs.

There will be a midterm exam during 5th week and a final exam. Obviously your answers to exam questions should be entirely your own work and not the result of collaboration with others. If the use of outside sources (such as the textbook) is permitted, be careful to cite ideas and material from those sources, whether derived, summarized, quoted or paraphrased.

Any student with a disability who needs an accommodation or other assistance in this course should make an appointment to speak with me as soon as possible.