Discrete Mathematics III Seminar
The Probabilistic Method

Topics

This seminar continues along the lines of the Discrete Mathematics III course titled "The Probabilistic Method". The seminar will explore various topics in probabilistic combinatorics, including:

• Discrepancy and the Beck-Fiala theorem
• Geometry and the VC dimension
• Counting designs

References

The seminar's material will be drawn from the following sources:

• N. Alon and J. Spencer, The Probabilistic Method. (Ch 13: Discrepancy and Ch 14: Geometry in the third edition)
• P. Keevash, Counting designs
  • Original paper
  • Lectures: (Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV)
  • Zur Luria's seminar: Notes

Course Details

Instructors

The seminar will be run by

Tibor Szabó
Arnimallee 3, Rm 211a
szabo at math dot fu-berlin dot de

Prerequisites

A general prerequisite is familiarity with combinatorics and probability.

A formal prerequisite is the successful completion of the Probabilistic Method (Discrete Mathematics III) course taught in the Summer 2016 semester, or the consent of the instructor (please contact if necessary).

Credits

This course can be used as a Forschungsmodul or an Ergänzungsmodul in the Masters curriculum of the Freie Universität, or as an advanced seminar course in the curriculum of the Berlin Mathematical School.

Schedule

The seminar will meet on Mondays, 10:10 to 12:00, in Arnimallee 3, SR 130 (Hinterhaus).

Date	Speaker	Title
Nov 7	Tamás	Intro to Designs
Nov 14	Shagnik	Counting Steiner Triple Systems
Nov 21	Hoan	Designs I [slides]
Nov 28	Brent	Designs II [slides]
Dec 5	Patrick	Designs III
Dec 12	Ander	Designs IV
Jan 9	Vanessa	Discrepancy I
Jan 16	Malte	Geometry I
Jan 23	Malte	Geometry II
Feb 6	Vincent	Discrepancy II