Graph Theory and Additive Combinatorics

Exploring Structure and Randomness

Yufei Zhao

  

Cambridge University Press 2023

Using the dichotomy of structure and pseudorandomness as a central theme, this accessible text provides a modern introduction to extremal graph theory and additive combinatorics. Readers will explore central results in additive combinatorics-notably the cornerstone theorems of Roth, Szemerédi, Freiman, and Green-Tao-and will gain additional insights into these ideas through graph theoretic perspectives. Topics discussed include the Turán problem, Szemerédi’s graph regularity method, pseudorandom graphs, graph limits, graph homomorphism inequalities, Fourier analysis in additive combinatorics, the structure of set addition, and the sum-product problem. Important combinatorial, graph theoretic, analytic, Fourier, algebraic, and geometric methods are highlighted. Students will appreciate the chapter summaries, many figures and exercises, and freely available lecture videos on MIT OpenCourseWare. Meant as an introduction for students and researchers studying combinatorics, theoretical computer science, analysis, probability, and number theory, the text assumes only basic familiarity with abstract algebra, analysis, and linear algebra.

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Reviews

‘Yufei Zhao does great mathematics and has an uncanny ability to explain the deepest results with clear understandable prose. For anyone interested in the seminal ideas (and their interrelationships) of recent decades - pseudorandomness, graphons, graph regularity, to name a few - this is the book to read and savor.’

Joel Spencer - New York University

‘This impeccable book should quickly become a classic text in discrete maths. A huge selection of topics is treated elegantly, with beautiful illustrations, and in just the `right’ amount of detail to arouse the interest of the reader and leave them well-placed to find out more. In particular, the second half of the book is a superb introduction to additive combinatorics which I will happily recommend to any student in this area.’

Ben Green - Oxford University

‘This charming text gives an accessible introduction to the connected topics of extremal graph theory and modern additive combinatorics. The focus is very strongly on presenting intuition and restricting attention to the simplest possible instances of methods or classes of results, rather than aiming for maximal generality or the strongest statements; instead, references are given for further reading, or for the proofs of important theorems that are only stated here. Being highly suitable for advanced undergraduates or beginning graduate students, it fills a niche that is currently not occupied by other texts in these highly active areas of current mathematical research.’

Terry Tao - University of California, Los Angeles

‘A valuable and readable unified treatment of a fast-moving area of combinatorics from one of the world’s experts - sure to become a standard resource.’

Jordan Ellenberg - University of Wisconsin-Madison

‘Yufei Zhao’s book is a wonderful book about graph theory, additive combinatorics, and their surprising connections involving a major theme of modern mathematics: the interplay between structure and randomness. In both areas, the book can take the curious reader, whether an advanced undergraduate or a professional mathematician, on a joyous journey from the very basics to state-of-the-art research. Yufei Zhao himself is a major player in modern research in both these areas and his presentation is a tour de force.’

Gil Kalai - Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Reichman University

‘This is a beautiful treatment of Extremal Graph Theory and Additive Combinatorics, focusing on the fruitful interplay between the two. The book covers the classical results as well as recent developments in this active area. It is a fascinating manuscript that would appeal to students and researchers with an interest in discrete mathematics, theoretical computer number theory, and related areas.’

Noga Alon - Princeton University

‘This is a wonderful, well-written account of additive combinatorics from the graph theoretic perspective. Zhao skillfully ties in this approach to the usual statements and gives a thorough development of the subject. This book is indispensable for any serious researcher in this area. Beginners will find a thorough account of the subject with plenty of motivation. The more experienced reader will appreciate the authors’ insights and elegant development of some difficult ideas.’

Andrew Granville - University of Montréal

Anonymous MIT student end-of-term subject evaluation comment

Yufei’s textbook is extremely well written. The class is very challenging but teaches a vast amount of useful math. Now whenever I’m faced with a problem in graph theory, extremal combinatorics, or additive combinatorics I often will remember useful examples and techniques from this class. Yufei helps his students really master the techniques, through challenging psets. After struggling with some of the questions for hours I usually found that I had internalized why all the theorems presented in the chapter were true and could give reasonable sketches of how to demonstrate them. Truly an amazing class.