Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof with Puzzles, Patterns, and Games [Hardcover]

Douglas E. Ensley (Author), J. Winston Crawley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471763802 | ISBN-13: 978-0471476023 | Publication Date: October 7, 2005 | Edition: 1

Did you know that games and puzzles have given birth to many of today's deepest mathematical subjects? Now, with Douglas Ensley and Winston Crawley's Introduction to Discrete Mathematics, you can explore mathematical writing, abstract structures, counting, discrete probability, and graph theory, through games, puzzles, patterns, magic tricks, and real-world problems. You will discover how new mathematical topics can be applied to everyday situations, learn how to work with proofs, and develop your problem-solving skills along the way.

Online applications help improve your mathematical reasoning.
Highly intriguing, interactive Flash-based applications illustrate key mathematical concepts and help you develop your ability to reason mathematically, solve problems, and work with proofs. Explore More icons in the text direct you to online activities at www.wiley.com/college/ensley.

Improve your grade with the Student Solutions Manual.
A supplementary Student Solutions Manual contains more detailed solutions to selected exercises in the text.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Did you know that games and puzzles have given birth to many of today’s deepest mathematical subjects? Now, with Douglas Ensley and Winston Crawley’s Introduction to Discrete Mathematics, you can explore mathematical writing, abstract structures, counting, discrete probability, and graph theory, through games, puzzles, patterns, magic tricks, and real-world problems. You will discover how new mathematical topics can be applied to everyday situations, learn how to work with proofs, and develop your problem-solving skills along the way.

Online applications help improve your mathematical reasoning.
Highly intriguing, interactive Flash-based applications illustrate key mathematical concepts and help you develop your ability to reason mathematically, solve problems, and work with proofs. Explore More icons in the text direct you to online activities at www.wiley.com/college/ensley.

Improve your grade with the Student Solutions Manual.
A supplementary Student Solutions Manual contains more detailed solutions to selected exercises in the text.

About the Author

Doug Ensley is a full professor at Shippenshburg University with a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon.  He is an active participant in national and regional committees determining the future of the discrete math curriculum, and he regularly speaks at Joint Math and MathFest.

Winston Crawley is a full professor and chair of the math department at Shippensburg University.  He has a Ph.D. from University of Tennessee-Knoxville.  Crawley developed the undergraduate computer science curriculum at Shippensburg.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 704 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471763802
• ISBN-13: 978-0471476023
• ASIN: 0471476021
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful problems and solutions, February 4, 2006

By 

science-buff (Fremont, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof with Puzzles, Patterns, and Games (Hardcover)

This book is much less conventional than the other established texts for freshman or sophomore discrete math/computer science courses. It places more emphasis on math problem solving, and contains a wonderful selection of interesting and challenging problems based on puzzles and games.

My impression of reading through the book is the focus is more on establishing a solid foundation on mathematical reasoning; using discrete math puzzles and games as examples in achieving the goal. It also contains much less of boring computational/ algorithmic worked examples than regular texts. This makes the book immensely more useful for math enthusiats and high-school math competition contestants, in addition to its regular use in courses for math majors in universities. Computer science majors with a focus on algorithm and programming may feel the book has too much of a math-centric problem solving focus, and probably should look elsewhere.

Overall, a fascinating read; highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I can't learn a damned thing from this book, November 9, 2010

By 

Kdunk - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof with Puzzles, Patterns, and Games (Hardcover)

It may be better in an actual classroom setting where an instructor can help students work through solutions, but it's not so good in the class I have that is using it. Trying to self-study from this book is not very productive at all.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not too useful, September 26, 2011

By 

UGirl - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Discrete Mathematics, Student Solutions Manual: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof with Puzzles, Patterns, and Games (Paperback)

This student solutions manual only includes the solutions that are already in the back of the book. Some of them give more explanation, but some of the confusing solutions only give the same answer as the textbook. It doesn't seem worth the expense if there isn't a lot to help me understand the process, how to solve problems.