Customer Reviews

Discrete Mathematics for Computer Scientists (2nd Edition)

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I am a teacher's assistant for an undergraduate computer science course that uses this book. I have to say that it really is a terrible book for students to learn from who have never had much exposure to non-calculus math and the concept of the "mathematical proof". It skims over topics without providing enough exposition on the topics to allow students to have a fair grasp on the subject. This may just be the nature of teaching discrete math, but there seem to be far too many topics that Truss is trying to squeeze into too small of a space. He tries to throw in some more advanced topics such as formal machines and complexity theory, but only at the cost of having the overall quality of the material be watered down. Sadly, though, from what I have heard, this is the best current intro discrete math book out there.

I will have to agree with the other reviewer that it seems as if Truss is trying to cram lots and lots of discrete mathematics into an indiscrete stack of 500pp but i think he has done very well. At least in addressing those who need to skim over the material quickly, though they would love instead to relish on Grimaldi's.

:)