This monograph presents new and elegant proofs of classical results and makes difficult results accessible. The integer programming models known as set packing and set covering have a wide range of applications. Sometimes, owing to the special structure of the constraint matrix, the natural linear programming relaxation yields an optimal solution that is integral, thus solving the problem. Sometimes, both the linear programming relaxation and its dual have integral optimal solutions. Under which conditions do such integrality conditions hold? This question is of both theoretical and practical interest. Min-max theorems, polyhedral combinatorics, and graph theory all come together in this rich area of discrete mathematics. This monograph presents several of these beautiful results as it introduces mathematicians to this active area of research.

To encourage research on the many intriguing open problems that remain, Dr. Cornuéjols is offering a $5000 prize to the first paper solving or refuting each of the 18 conjectures described in the book. To claim one of the prizes mentioned in the preface, papers must be accepted by a quality refereed journal (such as Journal of Combinatorial Theory B, Combinatorica, SIAM Journal on Discrete Mathematics, or others to be determined by Dr. Cornuéjols) before 2020. Claims must be sent to Dr. Cornuéjols at Carnegie Mellon University during his lifetime.