Product Description

More than any other book in this field, this book ties together discrete topics with a theme. Written at an appropriate level of understanding for those new to the world of abstract mathematics, it limits depth of coverage and areas covered to topics of genuine use in computer science. Chapter topics include fundamentals, logic, counting, relations and digraphs, trees, topics in graph theory, languages and finite-state machines, and groups and coding. For individuals interested in computer science and other related fields — looking for an introduction to discrete mathematics, or a bridge to more advanced material on the subject.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1496766 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 505 pages

From the Publisher
More than any other text in this field, this text ties together discrete topics with a theme. Written at an appropriate level of rigor -- with a strong pedagogical focus -- it limits depth of coverage and areas covered to topics of genuine use in computer science. It stresses both basic theory and applications -- providing students with a firm foundation for more advanced courses.

From the Back Cover
More than any other book in this field, this book ties together discrete topics with a theme. Written at an appropriate level of understanding for those new to the world of abstract mathematics, it limits depth of coverage and areas covered to topics of genuine use in computer science. Chapter topics include fundamentals, logic, counting, relations and digraphs, trees, topics in graph theory, languages and finite-state machines, and groups and coding. For individuals interested in computer science and other related fields — looking for an introduction to discrete mathematics, or a bridge to more advanced material on the subject.

About the Author

Bernard Kolman received his BS in mathematics and physics from Brooklyn College in 1954, his ScM from Brown University in 1956, and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965, all in mathematics. He has worked as a mathematician for the US Navy and IBM. He has been a member of the mathematics department at Drexel University since 1964, and has served as Acting Head of the department. His research activities have included Lie algebra and perations research. He belongs to a number of professional associations and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Mu Epsilon, and Sigma Xi.

Robert C. Busby received his BS in physics from Drexel University in 1963, his AM in 1964 and PhD in 1966, both in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as a faculty member of the mathematics department at Drexel since 1969. He has consulted in applied mathematics and industry and government, including three years as a consultant to the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Executive Office of the President, specializing in applications of mathematics to economic problems. He has written a number of books and research papers on operator algebra, group representations, operator continued fractions, and the applications of probability and statistics to mathematical demography.

Sharon Cutler Ross received a SB in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1965, an MAT in secondary mathematics from Harvard University in 1966, and a PhD in mathematics from Emory University in 1976. She has taught junior high, high school, and college mathematics, and has taught computer science at the collegiate level. She has been a member of the mathematics department at DeKalb College. Her current professional interests are in undergraduate mathematics education and alternative forms of assessment. Her interests and associations include the Mathematical Association of America, the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, and UME Trends. She is a member of Sigma Xi and other organizations.

Customer Reviews

Excellent text
I am reviewing the 5th edition. This is an excellent text, easy to learn from, with a crystal clear presentation. I've found few errors in this edition and the ones that I have found are non-substantive typos, nothing more. Each chapter is broken out into digestible sections, and each section is followed by a wealth of problems. The problems are progressive, starting out very easy, but none of them are too hard to do: the authors' intent is clearly to build the reader's skill with the material. The problems are a mix of routine computations and some proofs. Answers to all odd numbered problems are given in the back of the book, making the text valuable for self-study.

I disagree with the reviewer who criticized the book on the basis of the authors' institutional affiliations. The text should be judged on its merits: If you're looking for a solid presentation that flows logically and naturally from one topic to the next, then this is the book for you. On the other hand if you're expecting a terse, densely compacted thicket of mathematical symbolism, then this isn't your book.

A fine and useful book.
I have never been a math wizard, but I really enjoyed this book, and have kept it around because it is so helpful.

I appreciate the organization of the book. If you want to study a chapter out of sequence, the opening page tells you which earlier chapters are necessary to understand the new one. The exercises in each section are progressive - you can understand the topic with the first few problems, and by the time you work through the section you will REALLY understand it.
I used the fourth edition, published in 2000, so perhaps there are some inaccuracies in the earlier edition. I found few examples of wrong answers.

Great Reference for Abstract Algebra and Real Analysis!
I thought that it was easy to read, the examples weren't difficult to follow and the definitions and proofs were great! I used it many times as a reference for Abstract Algebra (that book was awful) and Intro to Real Analysis. Great buy and a keeper for all students of Mathematics! Also, there is a reference of mathematical symbols in case you should forget what something means.