Syllabus

Math 370, January 20 2010

Meeting times and location
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Cupples II room 220
Note that Cupples I is the math building. Our classroom is in Cupples II!

Web page: http://www.math.wustl.edu/~russw/math370/

Introduction
Math 370 is an introduction to combinatorics. Topics will include the basics of enumeration, generating functions, the inclusion-exclusion principle, partition theory, and a small amount of introductory graph theory. As time allows, we will introduce Ramsey Theory, probabilistic methods in combinatorics, and poset theory (including Möbius inversion).

Prerequisites
The prerequisites are Math 132, Math 309, and Math 310; or equivalent mathematical maturity and experience.

Instructor:       Grader:

  Russ Woodroofe         Brady Rocks

  Cupples I 114         Cupples I 203

  Office hours: Tuesday 12:00 - 2:00 pm
                       + by appt         Thursday 1:30 - 2:30 pm (in Lopata 323)
          + by appt

  russw at math,wustl,edu                    brocks at math,wustl,edu

Textbook
Miklós Bóna, A Walk Through Combinatorics, 2nd edition.
I will cover most of Section II, and selected topics from Sections III and (especially) IV. I will update the schedule periodically with a record of the topics covered.

Grading
Your grade will be based on 2 midterm exams and one final exam, together with weekly homeworks and possibly an occasional quiz, in the proportions

Midterm exams 20% each

Final exam 30%

Homework and quizzes 30%

I have scheduled the midterms for February 19 and March 26 (in-class). Note that spring break is March 8-12.
The final is scheduled by the University for May 12th 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

If you are taking the course Pass/Fail, you need to do the equivalent of C- work to pass.

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