MA428      Half Unit
Combinatorial Optimisation

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Katerina Papadaki

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Applicable Mathematics and MSc in Operations Research & Analytics. This course is not available as an outside option.

Pre-requisites

Some familiarity with graph theory and some knowledge of linear programming is desirable. For students that have no linear programming background, it is recommended that they read the material of the first four lectures of course MA423, which can be found on the Moodle page of MA423.

Course content

The course is intended as an introduction to discrete and combinatorial techniques for solving optimisation problems, mainly involving graphs and networks. Topics covered include: minimum spanning trees; shortest path algorithms; maximum flow algorithms; minimum cost flow problems; matching and assignment problems; and other topics that may vary from year to year.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures totalling a minimum of 30 hours across Winter Term.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 3 problem sets in the WT.

Students will be given weekly exercises. Oral feedback will be provided in the seminars, where the weekly homework will be discussed. Three of these weekly exercises will be handed in as formative coursework and the students will be given written feedback on their submissions.

Indicative reading

Lecture notes will be supplied for all topics.



Most of the lectures will be based on topics from:

R K Ahuja, T L Maganti and J B Orlin, Network Flows (2013).

William J. Cook, William H. Cunningham, William R. Pulleyblank, Alexander Schrijver, Combinatorial Optimization (1997).

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the spring exam period.

Key facts

Department: Mathematics

Total students 2022/23: 28

Average class size 2022/23: 28

Controlled access 2022/23: Yes

Lecture capture used 2022/23: Yes (LT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills