Math 5490-Network Flows
Syllabus, Spring 2006


Instructor: Stephen C. Billups, CU-Denver Bldg., Rm 607, (303) 556-4814
email: Stephen.Billups@cudenver.edu
URL: http://www-math.cudenver.edu/~billups
Office Hours: T,Th: 3-4, or by appointment

Class hours:  T,Th: 5:30-6:45  CU-Denver Bldg., Rm 656
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Math or Computer Science, or permission of instructor..

Required Text:  R.K. Ahuja, T.L. Magnanti, J. B. Orlin, Network Flows,  Prentice-Hall, 1993


Overview:  This course is about modeling, solving, and understanding network flow problems. Such problems arise naturally in many disciplines such as telecommunications, water distribution, transportation, bioinformatics, and integrated circuit design. They also can be used to solve many problems where the connection with networks is not so obvious. The study of network flows involves concepts from a variety of mathematical fields, including optimization, graph theory, complexity theory, and data structures.

Course Objectives:

  1. Develop proficiency in modeling network flow problems from a variety of application areas.
  2. Cover the fundamental algorithmic ideas for solving the main categories of network flow problems.
  3. Introduce practical considerations for computer implementations: complexity theory, operations counts, data structures.
  4. Present the essential theory of network flows.
  5. Introduce computer tools for network flow problems.
  6. Improve technical communication skills.
Communications:  The best way to communicate with me and with other students in the class is through electronic mail and the world-wide web. (Of course, visiting me during office hours, or phoning me also work). If you have not already done so, please get an email account, and let me  know your email address.

Computers:   You will need an account on "math" so that you can do some of the homework problems that require MATLAB programming.

Assignments and Grading:  Expect to spend 6-10 hours per week outside of class. If you routinely spend more than 10 hours per week, please let me know!!
    Class Participation (5%):   You are expected to come to each class prepared to discuss the material scheduled for that day.   This means that you have read the assigned reading before class and are prepared to discuss the material. Occasionally, you will be assigned material to present to the rest of the class. Your participation grade will be based on the following guidelines:
    Homeworks (30%):   Homeworks will be assigned throughout the semester.  You are encouraged to discuss the homeworks with your classmates, but your writeups should be your own work.  Each problem will be graded according to the following criteria: 5 pts--Perfect; 4 pts--Small mistake; 3 pts--Right idea, but significant mistake; 1-2 pts--Some progress; 0 pts--Little or no progress. I will also mark off points for poor writing.  NO LATE PROBLEM SETS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

    Midterm Exam (15%) -- In class, closed book

    Term Project (30%) --     This will be a project of your choosing. There are four deliverables:
    1. Project Proposal, including annotated bibliography (10%)
    2. Draft Report (15%)
    3. Oral Presentation (25%)
    4. Final Report (50%)
          Final exam (20%) -- Take home.

Important Dates:

          Spring 2006 CLAS Registration and Academic Deadlines