MATH 5420 — Introduction to Combinatorics II
General Information
Continuation of MATH 5410, although formally independent of the material covered there. The emphasis here is the study of certain combinatorial structures, such as Latin squares and combinatorial designs (which are of use in statistical experimental design), classical finite geometries and combinatorial geometries (also known as matroids, which arise in many areas from algebra and geometry through discrete optimization theory). We introduce partially ordered sets and lattices, including general Möbius inversion and its application, as well as the Polya theory of counting in the presence of symmetries. Students will be expected to be comfortable writing proofs.
Full Cornell course description (SP26)
Credits: 4
Prerequisites and Enrollment
Prerequisites: MATH 2210, MATH 2230, MATH 2310, MATH 2940, or equivalent.
Enrollment: Enrollment limited to: graduate students.
Recorded Offerings
| Semester | Listed instructors | Course details |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Pavel Galashin | Roster / syllabus |
Workload and General Advice
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Course information checked against Cornell’s Spring and Fall 2026 rosters on September 18, 2026. The listed semesters are verified examples, not a complete offering history.