MTH 456/556
  Topics in Combinatorics  

Fall 2025 - PSU Campus - FMH 419

Syllabus,   Calendar,   Discussion Group,   Canvas

Section
(topics)
By
(date)
Read
(chapter)
Practice
(just try!)
Submit
(as HW)
Part 1

Counting and

Combinatorial

Proof

9/29
10/1
10/3
 1.1 Counting, Products notes
 1.2 Overcounts, Sums notes
 1.3 Functions, Bijections notes
Practice 1
solutions:
1A, 1B, 1C
HW 1
Due Oct 6
solution
10/6
10/8
10/10
 1.4 Relations, Equivalence notes
 1.5 Pigeonhole Principle notes

 2.1 Counting Functions notes
Practice 2
solutions:
2A, 2B, 2C
HW 2
Due Oct 13
10/13
10/15
10/17
 2.2 Subsets, Multisets
 2.3 Set Partitions

 2.4 Integer Partitions
Exam One 10/24 Covers material through 2.4 9:00am FMH 419
Part 2

Algebraic

Tools

and Number

Families

10/20
10/27
10/29
 3.1 Inclusion/Exclusion
 3.3 Gen Functions I
 3.4 Gen Functions II
10/31
11/3
11/5
 3.5 Recurrence Relations
 3.6 Linear Recurrences
 4.1 Bi/multinomial Coefs
11/7
11/10
11/12
 4.2 Fibonacci, Lucas
 4.3 Stirling Numbers
 4.4 Partition Numbers
Exam Two 11/21 Covers material through 4.4 9:00am FMH 419
Part 3

Partially

Ordered Sets

11/14
11/17
11/24
 5.1 Polya Examples
 5.2 Permutation Groups
 5.3 Orbits and Fixed Points
11/26
12/1
12/3
 5.4 Use of the CFB Thm
 5.5 Proof of the CFB Thm
 5.6 Cycle Index, Polya Thm
Exam Three 12/8 Cumulative 9:00-10:50 FMH 419



Back to my home page.