Symmetric Designs An Algebraic Approach [Paperback]

Symmetric designs are an important class of combinatorial structures which arose first in the statistics and are now especially important in the study of finite geometries.Symmetric designs are an important class of combinatorial structures which arose first in the statistics and are now especially important in the study of finite geometries. This book presents some of the algebraic techniques that have been brought to bear on the question of existence, construction and symmetry of symmetric designs and includes many results.Symmetric designs are an important class of combinatorial structures which arose first in the statistics and are now especially important in the study of finite geometries. This book presents some of the algebraic techniques that have been brought to bear on the question of existence, construction and symmetry of symmetric designs and includes many results.Symmetric designs are an important class of combinatorial structures which arose first in the statistics and are now especially important in the study of finite geometries. This book presents some of the algebraic techniques that have been brought to bear on the question of existence, construction and symmetry of symmetric designs  including methods inspired by the algebraic theory of coding and by the representation theory of finite groups  and includes many results. Rich in examples and containing over 100 problems, the text also provides an introduction to many of the modern algebraic approaches used, through six lengthy appendices and supplementary problems. The book will be of interest to both combinatorialists and algebraists, and could be used as a course text for a graduate course.1. Symetric Designs; 2. An Algebraic Approach; 3. Automorphisms; 4. Difference Sets; 5. Multiplier Theorems; 6. Open Questions; Appendices.