The University of Michigan Student Combinatorics Seminar
Fall 2010
November 9, 5:10-6:00, 3866 East Hall



Counting Points in Space

David Benson-Putnins

University of Michigan


Abstract

Pick's Theorem describes the volume of a polygon in terms of the integer points it contains. This result, first found in 1899, was the first hint at how counting integer points can give the volume of a general polytope. Through the magic of generating functions, we will look at the interplay between integer points of polytopes, cones, and volumes.