Now with solutions to selected problems, Applied Combinatorics, Second Edition presents the tools of combinatorics from an applied point of view. This bestselling textbook offers numerous references to the literature of combinatorics and its applications that enable readers to delve more deeply into the topics.
After introducing fundamental counting rules and the tools of graph theory and relations, the authors focus on three basic problems of combinatorics: counting, existence, and optimization problems. They discuss advanced tools for dealing with the counting problem, including generating functions, recurrences, inclusion/exclusion, and Pólya theory. The text then covers combinatorial design, coding theory, and special problems in graph theory. It also illustrates the basic ideas of combinatorial optimization through a study of graphs and networks.
Applied Combinatorics provides readers with an extensive look at combinatorics. Covers many new detailed applications, including material on list colorings, expanding discussion of scheduling legislative committees, material on DNA sequence alignment, and material on cryptography. Includes a section dealing with stable marriages and their many modern applications, including the assignment of interns to hospitals, dynamic labor markets, and strategic behavior. Uses real applications from the current literature and the extensive modern literature citations. Covers problem-solving through a variety of exercises that test routine ideas, introduce new concepts and applications, or attempt to challenge the reader to use the combinatorial techniques developed. Ideal as an introduction to Combinatorics.