MATH 175 LEC A: COMBINATORICS (44360)

Instructor Contact Information:

Isaac Goldbring
Email: isaac@math.uci.edu

Homepage: http://www.math.uci.edu/􏰀isaac
Office Hours:  Wednesdays 10am by Zoom.  Zoom link Links to an external site.

Course Information:

  • Required Text: “Combinatorics and graph theory” (Second Edition) by Harris, Hirst, and Mossinghoff

  • Class Meetings:  

  • TA:  Jessica Schirle
  • Homework: There will be 4 problem sets during the term, due August 14th, August 21st, August 28th, and September 6th.  They will be due at 11:59pm and must be turned in on Canvas.

    • The problems for all of the homework assignments can be found on this master problem list Download master problem list.
    • 4 problems will be randomly selected from each assignment and graded for correctness.
    • Since I am unsure of the pace of the pace of the course, after each lecture, I will update the current HW assignment by telling you which sections from the problem list are to be added to the assignment.
  • Quizzes:  There will be 4 quizzes during the term.  They will take place during the first 15 minutes of discussion on August 16, August 25, August  30, and September 8.  Your TA will tell you which sections are to be covered on the quiz during the prior discussion section.
  • Midterm:  Wednesday August 23.  The exam will take place over zoom from 5-5:50.  You will then immediately upload your exam to Canvas.  Before the exam, we will have a review session lead by the TA and myself from 3-4:30, again over zoom.
  • Final Exam:  Wednesday, September 13.  The exam will take place over zoom from 4-5:30.  Again, you will immediately upload your exam to Canvas.  The TA and myself will answer any last minute questions you might have from 3-3:50.  

  • Final Project:  Due on Monday, September 11.  You will write a 2-4 page report on some topic related to combinatorics.  One possible idea is to read and reporting about current research in combinatorics from a website such as Quanta magazine. Links to an external site.  Another possible idea is to find a theorem not discussed in lecture but maybe is discussed in the book and to report on it.
  • Grades: Grades will be calculated as follows:

    • Homework:  15%
    • Quizzes:  15%
    • Midterm:  25%
    • Final exam:  35%
    • Final report:  10%
  • Friendly advice:  This class will move at a fairly accelerated pace.  It would be wise to not fall behind and to try the homework problems from the material just covered as soon as possible.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due