Combinatorics & Commutative Algebra

This text offers an overview of two of the main topics in the connections between commutative algebra and combinatorics. The first concerns the solutions of linear equations in non-negative integers. Applications are given to the enumeration of integer stochastic matrices (or magic squares), the volume of polytopes, combinatorial reciprocity theorems and related results. The second topic deals with the face ring of a simplicial complex, and includes a proof of the upper bound conjecture for spheres. An introductory chapter giving background information in algebra, combinatorics and toplogy aims to broaden access to this material for non-specialists. This edition contains a chapter surveying more recent work related to face rings, focusing on applications to f-vectors. Also included is information on subcomplexes and subdivisions of simplicial complexes, and an application to spline theory.