Combinatorics (Wiley-Interscience Series in Discrete Mathematics and Optimization) (Hardcover)

by Russell Merris (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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

“...engagingly written...a robust learning tool...” (American Mathematical Monthly, March 2004)

Product Description
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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 2 edition (August 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047126296X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471262961
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,053,789 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The best combinatorics text I have seen so far, March 1, 2005

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

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.

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

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

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

1 of 3 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.