Distinguished Lecture Series
Avi Wigderson
Institute for Advanced Study
Permanent & Determinant: non-identical twins
Abstract: The determinant is undoubtedly the most important polynomial function in mathematics.
Its lesser known sibling, the permanent, plays very important roles in
enumerative combinatorics, statistical and quantum physics, and the
theory of computation. In this lecture I plan to survey some of the
remarkable properties of the permanent, its applications and impact on
fundamental computational problems, its similarities to and apparent
differences from the determinant, and how these relate to the P vs. NP
prolem.
This lecture is intended to a general Math & CS audience.
Friday October 17, 2014 at 3:00 PM in 2LCC C3