Math 304 - Introduction to Combinatorics - Fall 2000

Dr. Alexander Burstein, Assistant Professor of Mathematics,
456 Carver Hall, (29)4-7294, burstein@math.iastate.edu

Homework assignments

Office Hours: T, Th 11-12:30, or by appointment

Textbook: Applied Combinatorics, by F. Roberts.

This page is http://www.math.iastate.edu/burstein/math304.html

Course Content:

Introduction (chapter 1)
Basic counting rules (chapter 2)
Generating functions and their applications (chapter 4)
Recurrence relations (chapter 5)
The principle of inclusion and exclusion (chapter 6)
Polya theory of counting (chapter 7)
The pigeonhole principle (chapter 8)
Experimental design (chapter 9)

Some of these chapters will be covered only partially.

Course Grade:

Homework and in-class problems - 20%
Two midterm exams - 25% each
Final exam - 30%

Hand-in homework will be given occasionally. Exams will be announced 1-2 weeks in advance. All exams will be cumulative but with emphasis on new material.

You may find it useful to work on homework problems in groups of 2-4 people. In such groups, give-and-take is important. If you only give or only take (especially, the latter!), you are in a wrong group. If you work in a group, it is essential that you understand solutions to all homework problems, even those you did not solve yourself.

Homework assignments:

Due Date Section Page Problems

September 12 2.5
2.7
2.11 27
31-32
45-46 2, 4, 5
11, 13, 16, 17
1-8, 14, 16

October 5 2.8
2.9
2.11
2.15
2.17
2.18
Add'l Ex. 33
37
46
58
67
71
73 8
12, 13, 14(c, d, e)
21
16-19
2(d), 6
2-6, 9, 10
20

October 12 Midterm 1 Take-home

November 16 4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
5.1 157
163
171
175
183
207 3(h, i, n, o)
1(h), 13, 15
1(l), 15
1(d), 3, 16, 17
1(f)
9, 17, 26

November 28 Midterm 2 Take-home

December 12 Final Take-home

Due Date	Section	Page	Problems
September 12	2.5 2.7 2.11	27 31-32 45-46	2, 4, 5 11, 13, 16, 17 1-8, 14, 16
October 5	2.8 2.9 2.11 2.15 2.17 2.18 Add'l Ex.	33 37 46 58 67 71 73	8 12, 13, 14(c, d, e) 21 16-19 2(d), 6 2-6, 9, 10 20
October 12	Midterm 1		Take-home
November 16	4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 5.1	157 163 171 175 183 207	3(h, i, n, o) 1(h), 13, 15 1(l), 15 1(d), 3, 16, 17 1(f) 9, 17, 26
November 28	Midterm 2		Take-home
December 12	Final		Take-home