The University of Michigan Student Combinatorics Seminar
Fall 2009
November 9, 4:10-5:00, 3866 East Hall



Hurwitz numbers and Cut-Join

Andrew Kiluk

University of Michigan


Abstract

Hurwitz numbers count either

(a) the number of isomorphism classes of certain ramified covers of a sphere, or

(b) the number of certain types of factorizations of a permutation.

In this talk, we will see why these two ideas correspond to the same numbers and how to find recursive relations on Hurwitz numbers.

Lots of pictures will be provided.