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GRAPHS AND HYPERGRAPHS

Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: Mario GIONFRIDDO

Expected Learning Outcomes

Teaching aims to get students to acquire the most modern methods and techniques, within the most recent combinatorial theories. The aim of the course is also to provide knowledge on the research topics currently being studied in the field of graph theory, hypergraphs and block-designs. Multiple issues of Discrete Mathematics are addressed in the course. Of all the topics studied, broad application guidelines are given.

Course Structure

Frontal lessons in which the topics provided by the program are carried out, with reports of open and still unresolved problems with the intention of stimulating students towards study and problem solving.

It is possible, on request, to take lessons in English.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

Required Prerequisites

some notion on graph theory

Attendance of Lessons

strongly recommended

Detailed Course Content

Graph Theory: Introductory concepts of graph theory, flatness, connection, particular structures - Origin and historical development of modern combinatorial theories - Coloring of the vertices, coloring of edges - Open problems and research themes - Relationships between chromatic number and other parameters - Algorithms - Chromatic Polynomial and Applications - Graph Classification - Open Problems.

Hypergraph theory: Hypergraphs, concepts and parameters associated with hypergraphs - Steiner, STS, SQS, S(2,4,v), characterization, blocking sets, construction, parallelism, method of differences - G-designs, balanced and highly balanced G-desings, various cases of G-designs (graph-), method of differences for G-designs - H-designs (hypergraph-designs), construction of H-designs, method of differences.

Open problems and historical conjectures of Graph and Hypergraph theory. Results.


  • Textbook Information

    1) C. Berge: ''Hypergraphs'', North-Holland (1989)  

    2) C.C.Lindner-C.Rodger: ''Design Theory'', CRC Boca Raton (2007)

    3) M.Gionfriddo, L.Milazzo, V.Voloshin: Hypergraphs and Designs, Nova Science, New York (2015 

    4) M.Gionfriddo: "Grafi, Ipergrafi, Designs", Lezioni del corso di Grafi e Ipergrafi, A.A. 2020-2021 (notes distributed by email to students requesting them)

    Course Planning

     SubjectsText References
    1Grafi - Ipergrafi - Sistemi d Steiner - H-designs

    Learning Assessment

    Learning Assessment Procedures

    Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l'integrazione Attiva e Partecipata – Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).