Seminar Details

Sequences and recurrence relations show up just ALL over the place from complex analysis to algebraic geometry to computer science to [insert any branch of math here]. But working with and understanding sequences is usually really hard (plenty of folks are perfectly content studying this their whole lives [see oeis.org ]). When sequences show up in your life (as they certainly will), one of the best tools you could reach for is the technique of generating functions. We'll discuss recurrence relations and the unreasonably effective use of generating functions to understand them. This topic is extremely beautiful and it's connected to essentially every branch of math (ever). No prior knowledge is required or assumed. It's gonna be great. Those interested should see Herb Wilf's wonderful (and free!) online book generatingfunctionology