Public Lectures

The Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics invites you to attend the 2014 Green Family Lectures featuring Avi Wigderson, Professor of Mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study.

Research Lecture: Permanent & Determinant: Non-identical Twins
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
1:30 PM
CNSI Auditorium

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 problem.

This lecture is intended for a general Math and CS audience.