Computational Discrete Mathematics: Combinatorics and Graph Theory with Mathematica ® (Hardcover)

~ Sriram Pemmaraju (Author), Steven Skiena (Author) "Discrete mathematics is a subject for explorers..." (more)
Key Phrases: transposition graph, divorce digraph, domination lattice, Generating Graphs, Algebraic Combinatorics, Experimental Exercises (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is the definitive reference guide to Combinatorica -- an extension of the popular computer software, Mathematica -- with examples of the 450 combinatorics functions. The authors developed the newest version of this software that has dramatic improvements in graphical processing performance, representation, visualization, and many brand new functions...This book is highly recommended. It is a well organized and readable textbook for beginners and intermediate students." Leonardo

Product Description

With examples of all 450 functions in action plus tutorial text on the mathematics, this book is the definitive guide to Experimenting with Combinatorica, a widely used software package for teaching and research in discrete mathematics. Three interesting classes of exercises are provided--theorem/proof, programming exercises, and experimental explorations--ensuring great flexibility in teaching and learning the material. The Combinatorica user community ranges from students to engineers, researchers in mathematics, computer science, physics, economics, and the humanities. Recipient of the EDUCOM Higher Education Software Award, Combinatorica is included with every copy of the popular computer algebra system Mathematica.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 494 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (December 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521806860
• ISBN-13: 978-0521806862
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #885,432 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It fills a Mathematica niche to perfection, October 28, 2009

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

This book has two primary uses, as a reference for the Combinatorica extension to Mathematica or as a textbook in a course in combinatorics and graph theory where Mathematica is extensively used. In both cases it is the best resource on the market. Combinatorica is an extremely powerful package that allows for very sophisticated operations to be performed in combinatorics and on graphs. However, there is no coverage of other areas of discrete mathematics.
The structure of the book is that it is split up into sections. For each section, there is a short textual description of the operation, a section of code illustrating the appropriate function(s) and the output from that code. The output is sometimes in the form of a textual listing and at other times an actual diagram. A complete listing of the functions and their actions is given in an appendix.
While this book is not one that could be used in a general course in discrete mathematics, it is an exceptional example of one that fills a niche to perfection. If you have any interest in doing combinatoric or graphing operations with Mathematica, then you have to look no further.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.