Discrete mathematics: methods and challenges

Abstract

Combinatorics is a fundamental mathematical discipline as well as an essential component of many mathematical areas, and its study has experienced an impressive growth in recent years. One of the main reasons for this growth is the tight connection between Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science, and the rapid development of the latter. While in the past many of the basic combinatorial results were obtained mainly by ingenuity and detailed reasoning, the modern theory has grown out of this early stage, and often relies on deep, well developed tools. This is a survey of two of the main general techniques that played a crucial role in the development of modern combinatorics; algebraic methods and probabilistic methods. Both will be illustrated by examples, focusing on the basic ideas and the connection to other areas.