Elementary Graph Theory
Spring 2008
| Professor: | Tom Wexler | Phone: | 587-8602 |
| Office: | Olin 205 | E-mail: | wexlert "at" denison.edu |
| Office Hours: | See Spring Schedule | Mailbox: | Olin 201 |
| Meeting Times: | MTWF, 11:30-12:20 | Classroom: | Olin 220 |
| Final Exam: | TBA |
Required Text
The following textbook is required for the course and is available through the Denison bookstore.
- Chartrand and Zhang, Introduction to Graph Theory. McGraw Hill, 2005
Grade Determination
Homework Assignments: 40% Midterm Exams (3): 30% Final Exam: 20% Class Participation: 10% Policies and Student Responsibilities
Homework
This class will have weekly homework assignments, typically consisting of 3 or 4 sections (either a long problem or a collection of shorter problems). Assignments will consist of a mix of problems from the text, problems I've created, assigned reading, and occasionally some coding. Homeworks will be given out on Tuesdays in class. One section must be completed and handed in on the beginning of class on Friday. The remaining sections must be completed and handed in on the beginning of class on the following Tuesday. You will often have some choice as to which section you complete early.
Late homework will not be accepted unless arrangements have been made with me well in advance. Homework may be written up by hand or typed (either with a word processor or a document markup language such as LaTeX). However, if you have difficulty writing legibly, you'll need to use one of the latter options.
You'll be expected that you devote at least 10 hours to these assignments. The assignments are often challenging, so start early. It is still very useful to at least read through the assigned problems as early as possible; letting a problem percolate for a few days often helps greatly in the problem-solving process.
Homeworks must be completed on your own. You may not discuss the assigned problems with anyone other than me. Using the internet to find solutions to assigned problems is a breach of academic integrity. If you're stuck or you have questions, I'm more than happy to talk with you. Feel free to stop by my office hours or send me an e-mail.
Participation
In order to do well in this class, it is imperative that you take an active role in the learning process. This means completing your reading before class, asking questions, and working on assignments regularly.
Your attendance is expected at each class meeting. It is in your own best interest to attend class, as your grade will almost certainly suffer indirectly if you choose not to attend. In addition, a portion of your grade will be determined by class participation, which, naturally, requires attendance. Of course, excused absences (sickness, family emergencies, varsity athletic participation) will not be held against you. Such absences should be communicated to me well in advance.
You are responsible for the content of reading assignments, lectures and handouts, as well as announcements and schedule changes made in class whether or not you are present. If you must miss a class, be sure to check with me or another student to get what you missed. Exams will be given in class on the day scheduled and may not be made up.
Read any assigned material before coming to class so you will be ready to ask questions. The material in the course is, by necessity, cumulative. Be warned that if you fall behind, you will not be able to catch up easily. If you are having trouble with a topic or problem, come see me. Nothing says ``I don't care'' like a student who does poorly and doesn't bother seeking help. Conversely, those who frequently come to office hours typically see significant improvement in their performance.
Disability Accomodation
Any student who thinks he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately as soon as possible to discuss your specific needs. I rely on the Office of Academic Support in Doane 104 to verify the need for reasonable accommodation based on documentation on file in their office.Academic Integrity
The students and faculty of Denison University and the Department of Matematics and Computer Science are committed to academic integrity and will not tolerate any violation of this principle. Academic honesty, the cornerstone of teaching and learning, lays the foundation for lifelong integrity.
Academic dishonesty is, in most cases, intellectual theft. It includes, but is not limited to, providing or receiving assistance in a manner not authorized by the instructor in the creation of work to be submitted for evaluation. This standard applies to all work ranging from daily homework assignments to major exams. Students must clearly cite any sources consulted—not only for quoted phrases but also for ideas and information that are not common knowledge. Neither ignorance nor carelessness is an acceptable defense in cases of plagiarism. It is the student’s responsibility to follow the appropriate format for citations.
As is indicated in Denison’s Student Handbook, available through mydenison.edu, instructors must refer every act of academic dishonesty to the Associate Provost, and violations may result in failure in the course, suspension, or expulsion. (For further information, see http://www.denison.edu/student-affairs/handbook/article7.html.)
Topics
- Definitions and Isomorphism
- Trees and Other Classes of Graphs
- Graph Representaion, Searching and Shortest Paths
- Planarity
- Circuits and Cycles
- Matchings
- Colorings
- Spanning Trees
- Covering and Packing
- Network Flow
- Ramsey Theory
Have a great semester! If you need anything, please let me know.