Invitation to Discrete Mathematics is a textbook by Jiří Matoušek, Professor of Computer Science at Charles University in Prague. It offers a clear and self-contained introduction to discrete mathematics, aimed at students of mathematics and computer science. This book encourages logical thinking and an active problem-solving approach.
Description
This second edition covers essential topics in discrete mathematics with more than 400 exercises and over 200 illustrations. The authors, internationally renowned mathematicians, emphasize depth in topics such as combinatorics, graph theory, and probability theory. The text is geared toward students and professionals who want to deepen their understanding of discrete structures and methods.
Key themes include, among others, elementary counting problems, asymptotic estimates, partially ordered sets, basic principles of graph theory and algorithms, finite projective planes, probability theory and the probabilistic method, generating functions, Ramsey’s theorem, and combinatorial applications of linear algebra. An introductory chapter clarifies mathematical concepts beyond high-school level, while an appendix summarizes the algebra required.
Product specifications
- Author: Jiří Matoušek (Professor of Computer Science, Charles University, Prague)
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Publication date: 2008-10-09
- Number of pages: 464
- ISBN: 9780198570424
- Subject: Mathematical theory of computation
- BISAC: COMPUTERS / Machine Theory
About the author
Jiří Matoušek earned his PhD in mathematics at Charles University in Prague and is professor there in Computer Science. He held several visiting professorships in the US, Germany, and Japan. Awarded with various prizes, including the Young Mathematicians Prize of the European Congress of Mathematics, and a speaker at ICM 1998. Together with Jaroslav Nešetřil, Professor of Mathematics at Charles University, he works on theoretical computer science and discrete mathematics.