Math 381: Graph Theory
Spring 2021
Course Information

Go to announcements | homework assignments | syllabus | syllabus + recordings.

Instructor: Tom Zaslavsky
Office: LN 2231
E-mail: zaslav@math.binghamton.edu

Online Zoom class:
Zoom meeting name: Spring 2021 - Graph Theory (MATH-381-01)
Meeting ID: 976 1120 8454
Passcode: 381s21
Automatic link:
https://binghamton.zoom.us/j/97611208454?pwd=NDQyeGNzRXhtMUtHUWJvbkFraE9BZz09

Online office hours, on Zoom at the same meeting ID as our class:
Any time we can arrange: email me to arrange it.
Also: M, W 4:40–5:30 and F 4:40–5:00 (no appointment necessary).

Textbook

Hartsfield and Ringel, Pearls in Graph Theory, third edition (Dover, 2003). (This book, and the second edition (1994) which is almost the same, will be on reserve in the Reserve Reading Room.) For the topics to be covered, consult the syllabus.

You will find additions and corrections to the textbook on the announcements page. Check regularly because there are important things to know there. Also look there if you see something strange in the book or assignment.

Grading System

Also see Homework below.

There will be 450 course points.

Midterm Test (Mon.-Tues., April 12-13)			100 points
Final Exam (final exam week):				150 points
Homework:   for handing in assignments,    		 60 points
	    for correctness (your HW score),		140 points
Class participation:				 some bonus points

Attendance

We meet online on M, W, Th, F for lectures (M, Th, F, sometimes W) and class discussion (W, sometimes Th) of graph theory, including homework problems. Discussion is a main part of the course (and fun; at least I always like hearing students' ideas). Attendance is expected every day.

Tests and Quizzes

Test coverage

The midterm will cover chapters 1-5, including the extra topics in my handouts (see the syllabus), but it will omit sections 3.3, 4.2, 4.3, 5.3, the matrix-tree theorem (a handout), and derangements (the numbers D_n) in section 5.1.
The final exam is comprehensive but with extra attention to topics covered after the midterm.

Test formats

The midterm will be an overnight (24-hour plus a bit) take-home, open-book test. It will be available in the daytime 4/12 and due by midnight 4/13 (but get enough sleep; it improves your grade).
The final was scheduled to be in person, but with about half the class remote, I've changed it to another take-home, open-book test (dates to be decided later).

Test rules

"Open book" means you are allowed to consult the textbook, your notes, your homework, the class recordings, and any other class materials. You may consult standard online sources like Wikipedia that you look up yourself (it probably won't help). You may use a calculator or online equivalent (joke; almost nothing in graph theory can be done with a calculator).
Forbidden: Any other person or organization helping with the solutions. That includes friends and family; also, sites that solve problems for you, and anything else that has another person (or AI) contributing to your solution. This would be a violation of academic honesty and there are severe penalties. I don't expect anyone to try it, but I'm obliged to remind you of this by university policy.

Test Policy

You are responsible for everything covered in class and for all assigned readings and problems. NO MAKEUPS will normally be allowed on tests, but I will use my discretion. If you miss a test be prepared to document the reason. If you have a question about any grade, you must see me before the next test.

There may or may not be quizzes, and they may or may not be announced in advance. No makeups on quizzes.

No early finals under any circumstances.

Advice about solving problems (tests and homework): Often there are several ways to solve a problem. Some may be faster than others. Your ability to find efficient solutions will be a factor in taking tests. If you find inefficient, long solutions to some problems, you may not have enough time to finish a test. This is not speed, it is knowing how to find good ways of solving problems. You develop this by practice. Keep it in mind!

Homework

Homework assignments will appear gradually, as we work through the course.

Most problems will not be graded; they will be discussed in class (as time allows), usually one or two days a week. (You may ask about any problem, not necessarily assigned: again, as time allows.) I'll specify a few hand-in problems that will be collected and some graded; they will not be discussed until after they are returned. "Normally" (but not always) discussion will begin Wednesday, hand-ins will be due by 3:00 p.m. on Saturday (note the change) and returned Monday. I NEVER ACCEPT LATE HW. (Early HW is fine.)

HW grading system: There are two parts: the number of assignments handed in, and the grade you receive on each. Half your HW credit is for turning in the assignments. The other half is the grade for correctness, in which each problem (with an occasional exception) gets 4 "HW points".

4 HW points for a complete and correct solution.

2-3 for a nearly correct solution or a good partial solution.

1 for a very partial solution or a good start.

0 for no work, a poor start, or an unsupported answer.

I expect all answers to be fully justified (unless my instructions say otherwise). A "HW point" is worth about 0.1 course point, so don't worry about a point on the homework, but do worry if you don't understand how to solve the problem or how it was graded. Then come and discuss it with me.

For other rules and advice, see the homework page.