Fundamentals of Discrete Math for Computer Science: A Problem-Solving Primer (Undergraduate Topics in Computer Science) - Softcover

Ben Stephenson Tom Jenkyns; Ben Stephenson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1447140680 ISBN 13: 9781447140689

Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc, 2012

Synopsis

This clearly written textbook presents an accessible introduction to discrete mathematics for computer science students, offering the reader an enjoyable and stimulating path to improve their programming competence. The text empowers students to think critically, to be effective problem solvers, to integrate theory and practice, and to recognize the importance of abstraction. Its motivational and interactive style provokes a conversation with the reader through a questioning commentary, and supplies detailed walkthroughs of several algorithms. This updated and enhanced new edition also includes new material on directed graphs, and on drawing and coloring graphs, in addition to more than 100 new exercises (with solutions to selected exercises).
Topics and assumes no prior mathematical knowledge, and discusses concepts in programming as and when they are needed; designed for both classroom use and self-study, presenting modular and self-contained chapters that follow ACM curriculum recommendations; describes mathematical processes in an algorithmic manner, often supported by a walkthrough demonstrating how the algorithm performs the desired task; includes an extensive set of exercises throughout the text, together with numerous examples, and shaded boxes highlighting key concepts; selects examples that demonstrate a practical use for the concept in question. Students embarking on the start of their studies of computer science will find this book to be an easy-to-understand and fun-to-read primer, ideal for use in a mathematics course taken concurrently with their first programming course.

About this title

From the Back Cover

An understanding of discrete mathematics is essential for students of computer science wishing to improve their programming competence.

Fundamentals of Discrete Math for Computer Science provides an engaging and motivational introduction to traditional topics in discrete mathematics, in a manner specifically designed to appeal to computer science students. The text empowers students to think critically, to be effective problem solvers, to integrate theory and practice, and to recognize the importance of abstraction. Clearly structured and interactive in nature, the book presents detailed walkthroughs of several algorithms, stimulating a conversation with the reader through informal commentary and provocative questions.

Topics and features:

• Highly accessible and easy to read, introducing concepts in discrete mathematics without requiring a university-level background in mathematics
• Ideally structured for classroom-use and self-study, with modular chapters following ACM curriculum recommendations
• Describes mathematical processes in an algorithmic manner, often including a walk-through demonstrating how the algorithm performs the desired task as expected
• Contains examples and exercises throughout the text, and highlights the most important concepts in each section
• Selects examples that demonstrate a practical use for the concept in question

This easy-to-understand and fun-to-read textbook is ideal for an introductory discrete mathematics course for computer science students at the beginning of their studies. The book assumes no prior mathematical knowledge, and discusses concepts in programming as needed, allowing it to be used in a mathematics course taken concurrently with a student’s first programming course.

About the Author

Dr. Tom Jenkyns is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Computer Science at Brock University, Canada.

Dr. Ben Stephenson is an Instructor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, Canada.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1447140680
• ISBN 13: 9781447140689
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 416