Contact Info
Combinatorics & Optimization
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext 33038
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Thursday, October 31, 2019 4:00 PM EDT
Title: Edge-maximal graphs on surfaces
| Speaker: | James Davies |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5501 |
Abstract:
It is straightforward to show that, with the exception of small complete graphs, every edge-maximal planar graph triangulates the plane.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 3:00 PM EDT
Title: Interpolated versions of the Central Limit Theorem, and crossings of pair-partitions
| Speaker: | Alexandru Nica |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5417 |
Abstract:
Thursday, October 31, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
Title: Perfect state transfer on Cayley graphs
| Speaker: | Soffia Arnadottir |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5479 |
Abstract:
Perfect state transfer on Cayley graphs
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 3:30 PM EDT
Title: Cutting a square into triangles of equal area
| Speaker: | Hayley Reid |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5501 |
Abstract:
Suppose you are given a square and asked to cut it into n triangles of equal area. If n is even the problem is almost trivial, but when n is odd the problem becomes much harder.
Thursday, October 24, 2019 4:00 PM EDT
Title: Sublinear separators in intersection graphs of convex shapes
| Speaker: | Rose McCarty |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5501 |
Abstract:
A balanced separator of an n-vertex graph is set of vertices whose deletion leaves only components of size at most 2n/3.
Thursday, October 24, 2019 3:00 PM EDT
Title: Boundary measurement and sign variation in real projective space
| Speaker: | John Machacek |
| Affiliation: | York University |
| Room: | MC 5417 |
Abstract:
Thursday, October 24, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
Title: Perfect state transfer on Hadamard diagonalizable graphs
| Speaker: | Xiaohong Zhang |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5479 |
Abstract:
A (weighted) graph whose Laplacian matrix is diagonalizable by a Hadamard matrix is said to be Hadamard diagonalizable.
Thursday, October 17, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
Title: Discrete quantum walks, embeddings and designs
| Speaker: | Harmony Zhan |
| Affiliation: | York University |
| Room: | MC 5479 |
Abstract:
We construct a quantum walk from an embedding of a graph.
Friday, October 11, 2019 3:30 PM EDT
Title: On the depth of cutting planesOn the depth of cutting planes
| Speaker: | Laurent Poirrier |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5501 |
Abstract:
We tackle one of the most important open problems in computational integer programming: cut selection.
For four decades, cutting planes were believed to be useful only for structured combinatorial problems. This changed in 1995 when Balas, Ceria and Cornuéjols showed that Gomory cuts could helpfully strengthen the formulation of general integer programming problems. Since then, many other cut generation techniques have been developed, but their practical success has been moderate at best.
Friday, October 11, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
Title: Maximizing a Monotone Submodular Function subject to a Matroid Constraint
| Speaker: | Justin Toth |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5417 |
Abstract:
Based on the paper by Calinescu, Chekuri, Pál, and Vondrák of the same title. We will study a randomized $(1-\frac{1}{e})$-approximation algorithm for the titular problem.
Thursday, October 10, 2019 4:00 PM EDT
Title: A Pseudoforest Analogue of the Strong Nine Dragon Tree Conjecture
| Speaker: | Logan Grout |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5501 |
Abstract:
In 2016, Jiang and Yang proved the Nine Dragon Tree Conjecture, a strengthening of the classical arboricity result of Nash-Williams (1964). On the way to developing this proof, Fan, Lim Song, and Yang proved an analogous result for decomposing graphs into pseudoforests, which is a strengthening of Hakimi’s Theorem.
Thursday, October 10, 2019 3:00 PM EDT
Title: Scattering amplitudes and associahedra
| Speaker: | Hugh Thomas |
| Affiliation: | UQAM |
| Room: | MC 5417 |
Abstract:
The classic approach to scattering amplitudes sums a contribution from a (potentially very large) number of Feynman diagrams.
Thursday, October 10, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
Title: Quantum Colouring and Derangements
| Speaker: | Chris Godsil |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5479 |
Abstract:
Work in quantum information has lead to the introduction of quantum colourings.
Friday, October 4, 2019 3:30 PM EDT
Title: Extending drawings of K(n) to pseudolines and pseudocircles
| Speaker: | Bruce Richter |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5501 |
Abstract:
In the early part of the 21st century, it was shown that the number of crossings in a straight-line drawing of K(n) is at least the number H(n), which is conjectured to be the crossing number of K(n). In fact, it is now known that, for n at least 10, the inequality is strict.
Friday, October 4, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
Title: Greedy Heuristic for Maximizing Submodular Set Functions
| Speaker: | Ishan Bansal |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5417 |
Abstract:
Several hard combinatorial optimization problems can be posed in the following framework: maximize a submodular function over its domain subject to a cardinality constraint.
Thursday, October 3, 2019 4:00 PM EDT
Title:
| Speaker: | Lise Turner |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 5501 |
Abstract:
There are several different notions of what it means for a graph to converge. One popular notion for sparse graphs is Benjamini-Schramm convergence which focuses on local properties of the graphs.
Thursday, October 3, 2019 3:00 PM EDT
Title: Discrete diffusion on graphs and real hyperplane arrangements
| Speaker: | David Wagner |
| Affiliation: | University of Waterloo |
| Room: | MC 6483 |
Abstract:
In 2016, Duffy et al. introduced the following process on a graph. Initially, each vertex has some integer number of ``chips'' placed there (possibly negative).
Thursday, October 3, 2019 1:00 PM EDT
Title: Type II Matrices
| Speaker: | Ada Chan |
| Affiliation: | York University |
| Room: | MC 5479 |
Abstract:
In 1867, Sylvester defined an {\sl inverse orthogonal matrix} as an $n\times n$ complex matrix $W$ satisfying