Most talks are expected to be in Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Group Theory. The seminar provides also an extension of the material covered in the course on Group theory that I teach. There will be talks on the Mobius function on the lattice of subgroups of a finite group, faithful representations of finite groups, partition q-identities, results on graph theory. Students shall also discuss homework problems assigned in lectures. Here is a tentative schedule of talks:
Constantine: The Mobius function on the lattice of normal subgroups (2 lectures)
Lattanzio: Maximal critical cliques
Predoiu: On the structure of t-designs (2 lectures)
Buliga: Colorful spanning forests
Grigoryan: Data on posture control
Predoiu and Constantine: Paper by Isaacs & Co on Mobius function on subgroups (several lectures)
NEW SPEAKERS WELCOME!
Recommended reading on finite groups (one book at a time, please!):
Gorenstein's "Finite groups"
Curtis and Reiner's "Representation theory of finite groups and associative algebras", Interscience Pub., New York, 1962
Feit's "Characters of finite groups", Benjamin Pub., New York, 1967
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Here are some oldies but goodies:
Burnside's turn of the century treatice
Weyl's "The theory of groups and quantum mechanics", 1931, Dover
Miller, Blichfeldt, and Dickson's "Theory and applications of finite groups", 1916, also 1961 Dover
Carmichael's "Groups of finite order", 1937, also 1956 Dover
Exercises:
Dixon's "Problems in group theory", 1973 Dover
MacMahon's combinatory analysis
Ryser's combinatorial mathematics
Landers book on "Symmetric designs", a London Math Soc Series, 1987
Geramita and Seberry's "Orthogonal designs", a Dekker publication, 1979
Constantine's Combinatorial theory and statistical design, Wiley, 1987
Gauss' "Discutiones Arithmeticae", the nineteenth century
Interested parties, such as students or faculty, should contact me by email at
gmc@euler.math.pitt.edu
or by dropping a note in my mailbox on the third floor of Thackeray Hall. Mail along your time availability.
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