About the Course

Combinatorics and Graph Theory

  • Grades 7-11
  • Advanced CTY-Level
  • Residential

If you’ve ever wanted to know how to turn tedious counting problems into simple solutions—like how to figure out the total number of games played in the March Madness tournament without needing to count every matchup on your bracket, one by one—this course is for you. It explores enumerative combinatorics and the different techniques for working through mathematical proofs using binomial coefficients, permutations, and partitions. You’ll investigate graph theory and its applications in fields like navigation, computer science, and counterterrorism. One famous graph-theory question posed in the early 1800s—Can you color any map using just four colors so that no two adjacent areas share the same color?—took more than 100 years for mathematicians to answer. You’ll analyze problems like these while learning concepts like cycles, planarity, algorithms, and graph colorings that are used to solve them. Along the way, you’ll encounter fun and challenging problems that can be solved with creativity and determination—even without a background in college-level math.

Note: Students who have taken CTY's Discrete Math course should not take this course.

Typical Class Size: 16

Summer Dates & Locations

Final registration deadline Session One:

Final registration deadline Session Two:

☀️ CTY Summer Fun Giveaway ☀️

Enroll in a 2022 On-Campus Summer course and you could win a free Online course—AND 50% off a 2023 On-Campus Summer course! Learn more.

Session One

Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Bristol, Rhode Island
-
Residential cost: $5,220
Commuter cost: $4,515
Enroll

Session Two

Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
-
Residential cost: $5,220
Commuter cost: $4,515
Enroll

Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level Advanced CTY-Level Not required
Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

Sign up for Testing Learn More

Course Prerequisites

Combinatorics and Graph Theory requires:

1 prerequisite

Algebra 1

Cost and Financial Aid

  • Tuition
    • Varies
  • Application fee
    • Nonrefundable Application Fee - $50 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $250 (outside US only)

Financial Aid is available

We are committed to serving all talented youth regardless of financial circumstances. Financial assistance is available based on need.

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About Mathematics at CTY

Explore the study of shapes

Geometry courses allow students to describe the world around them in basic and profound ways. Our younger students learn about shape, scale, and proportion in Geometry and Spatial Sense. Middle School students explore beautiful applications of lines, angles, non-Euclidean geometry, and more in Geometry through Art. And advanced students explore the underlying mathematics and fundamental characteristics of shapes, distance, and continuous deformations in our proof-based Topology course.

Dive deep into logic and reasoning

Our courses in formal logic give you the tools to question the world around you. Younger students are introduced to different types of reasoning, as well as the strengths and weaknesses inherent in various forms of critical analysis in Inductive and Deductive Reasoning. Older students explore how logical reasoning can explain (or fail to explain) counter-intuitive results in Paradoxes and Infinities, or take a more rigorous approach to formal logic in Mathematical Logic.

Meet our instructors and staff