Graph Theory

Fall 2011

(642:581)

 

Course Info

Instructor: Swastik Kopparty (swastik.kopparty@rutgers.edu)

Office Hours: Hill 432, Wednesday 2pm – 3pm

 

Prerequisites: Basic combinatorics, linear algebra and some discrete probability.

Recommended books: The Probabilistic Method (Alon & Spencer), Modern Graph Theory (Bollobas).

 

There will be problem sets every 2-3 weeks. There are no exams.

 

Topics

·         Matchings, cuts, flows, connectivity

·         Planar graphs

·         Random graphs

·         The local structure of graphs

·         Linear algebra in graph theory

·         Expander graphs

·         Random walks

·         Applications

 

Homework

·         Homework 1 (Due October 6)

·         Homework 2 (Due November 10)

·         Homework 3 (Due December 6)

 

 

Lecture Schedule

·         September 1: Course Overview

·         September 6: Trees (notes)

·         September 8: NO CLASS (Monday Schedule)

·         September 13: Bipartite Graphs and Matchings (notes)

·         September 15: Flows and Cuts (notes)

·         September 20: Planar Graphs (notes)

·         September 22: Drawing Planar Graphs and Crossing Numbers

·         September 27: Forbidden Subgraphs I (notes)

·         September 29: Forbidden Subgraphs II (notes)

·         October 4: Forbidden Subgraphs III (notes)

·         October 6: Subgraph Counts I (notes)

·         October 11: Subgraph Counts II (notes)

·         October 13: Ramsey Theory (notes)

·         October 18: Random Graphs I

·         October 20: Random Graphs II

·         October 25: Pseudorandom Graphs

·         October 27: The Szemeredi Regularity Lemma

·         November 1: The Szemeredi Regularity Lemma (contd.)

·         November 3: Girth

·         November 8: Expander Graphs (notes)

·         November 10: Expander Graphs (contd.)

·         November 15: R(3, k)

·         November 17: Cayley Graphs (notes)

·         November 22: The Matrix-Tree Theorem (notes)

·         November 24: NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)

·         November 29: Dependent Random Choice (notes)

·         December 1: Applications to Error-Correcting Codes

·         December 6: Lower bounds for the Regularity Lemma

·         December 8: The Planar Separator Theorem

·         December 13: Course Wrap-up