Combinatorics [Hardcover]

Russell Merris (Author)

Book Description

Series: Prindle, Weber, and Schmidt Series in Advanced Mathematics | Publication Date: December 18, 1995

This text for undergraduates covers the basics of combinatorics.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…broad and interesting…” (Zentralblatt Math, Vol.1035, No.10, 2004)

“...engagingly written...a robust learning tool...” (American Mathematical Monthly, March 2004) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

A mathematical gem–freshly cleaned and polished

This book is intended to be used as the text for a first course in combinatorics. the text has been shaped by two goals, namely, to make complex mathematics accessible to students with a wide range of abilities, interests, and motivations; and to create a pedagogical tool, useful to the broad spectrum of instructors who bring a variety of perspectives and expectations to such a course.

Features retained from the first edition:

• Lively and engaging writing style
• Timely and appropriate examples
• Numerous well-chosen exercises
• Flexible modular format
• Optional sections and appendices

Highlights of Second Edition enhancements:

• Smoothed and polished exposition, with a sharpened focus on key ideas
• Expanded discussion of linear codes
• New optional section on algorithms
• Greatly expanded hints and answers section
• Many new exercises and examples

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Brooks/Cole Pub Co; 1st edition (December 18, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534951546
• ISBN-13: 978-0534951542
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,891,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best combinatorics text I have seen so far, February 28, 2005

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Combinatorics (Wiley Series in Discrete Mathematics and Optimization) (Hardcover)

There is no question that combinatorics is becoming more important in the practice of computer science. While some of the most important techniques are covered in discrete mathematics courses, there is not enough breadth or depth in the coverage. As a consequence, one of my goals this upcoming year is to convince my colleagues at Mount Mercy to add a course in combinatorics to the curriculum. As part of the proposal, I need to create a list of resources and a sample schedule of topics to be covered. To begin this process, I studied several combinatorics texts and decided that this one was the best.
There are six chapters, and the titles are:

 Chapter 1 The mathematics of choice
 Chapter 2 The combinatorics of finite functions
 Chapter 3 Polya's theory of enumeration
 Chapter 4 Generating functions
 Chapter 5 Enumeration in graphs
 Chapter 6 Codes and designs

The coverage is thorough and the sequence has been structured to make the last four chapters independent. This necessitated the duplication of some definitions and theorems, but it is a sensible strategy. There is more than enough material for a one-semester course, so this increases the options available to an instructor. I often skip chapters in a textbook in order to cover a topic I consider critical and find it very helpful when the author repeats key definitions and theorems.
The style is mathematically rigorous, the approach is that of a mathematics textbook with the sequence being: theorem, proof, example(s). A large number of exercises are given at the end of each section and solutions/hints to the odd numbered ones are included. It is a sound combinatorics text and the one that I would most likely use if I ever teach such a course.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Author Responds, November 7, 2004

By 

Russell Merris (Hayward, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Combinatorics (Wiley Series in Discrete Mathematics and Optimization) (Hardcover)

It is unfortunate that Amazon.com has attached to the second edition of this book a review of the first edition.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Who is the audience?, December 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Combinatorics (Hardcover)

I used this book as a text for a junior-level course. The first two chapters are well-written, with useful exercises, and appropriate for the audience; later chapters are far more difficult, with uneven coverage, and the exercises are far less useful (I had to use other books for exercises, hand out extensive notes, etc.) These later chapters might be good for professional review, but not for students.
This is not just my perception; several students commented that the early part of the book was much better than the later part.