Discrete Mathematics

Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect.....
Review: For anyone having a bit of a problem getting used to formal proofs and number theory, this book is the best I've seen for the beginner, hands down. If you've gotten into one of the top math programs in the country, you will do OK without this book; but as for the rest of us, this book may prevent a lot of grief. It moves slowly and clearly through basic methods of proof and number theory, and it builds confidence quickly. Dr. Epp has written a great book, and the only drawback (which isn't her fault) is the price. If you are pretty good at math through Calculus but got thrown for a loop trying to understand proofs and more formal mathematics, this is probably the book for you (as it was for me).

Rating:
Summary: Awful, AND THEY JACKED UP THE PRICE $30
Review: Awful, even the prof said so, July 20, 2004
Reviewer: A reader
This book is horrible. I am a graduate software engineering student and took this course at a local university. The prof said that the book is horrible and used his own exaplainations and skipped the books explainations. If I was forced to use the book's explaination and examples I would be S.O.L. The only reason every discrete class uses this book is because there are no other discrete books in competition. If you are a comp sci student they should break discrete math classes apart to discrete for comp sci and discrete from math majors. They should also have comp sci teachers teaching this because math teachers don't usually have a clue how to relate discrete math to computer science.


Rating:
Summary: Used with 2 courses
Review: I took a two course (quarter system) undergarduate sequence spanning 20 weeks of instruction that used this text. I had different professors for each quarter (the author teaching the second semester).

I found the text excellent, making the study interesting, enjoyable, and quite easy. The fact that the author taught the second quarter made no difference; the text stands well on its own.

I am currently teaching at a technical college and am recommending this text for adoption.

Rating:
Summary: well-written book w/ enough mathematical rigor
Review: Suzanne Epp is an excellent writer and no one could accuse her of skimping on content. However there is such a thing as overkill. Certain sections badly need trimming and clarity: teaching from this book I spend a fair amount of time "boiling things down" to essential points which are often only implied or hidden among a proleration of examples. For example, entire sections are devoted to facets of predicate logic and arguments. This wouldn't prove redundant were it not for the fact that there is much duplication between the points mentioned in predicate logic and the points mentioned in propositional logic. I've seen less redundant and and more perspicuous presentations on logic in other texts. The homework problems for the large part seem a bit trivial. The reader again senses too much quantity of detail with little organizational clarity. Fewer and more substantive examples would prove helpful. The book seems ideal for a liberal arts college, there is plenty of text but much is mathematical style over substance. The reader, however, will at least be left with a clear conceptual understanding of salient topics in discrete math.

Rating:
Summary: Redundancies and Excessive Prose Detract from High Quality
Review: Suzanne Epp is an excellent writer and no one could accuse her of skimping on content. However there is such a thing as overkill. Certain sections badly need trimming and clarity: teaching from this book I spend a fair amount of time "boiling things down" to essential points which are often only implied or hidden among a proleration of examples. For example, entire sections are devoted to facets of predicate logic and arguments. This wouldn't prove redundant were it not for the fact that there is much duplication between the points mentioned in predicate logic and the points mentioned in propositional logic. I've seen less redundant and and more perspicuous presentations on logic in other texts. The homework problems for the large part seem a bit trivial. The reader again senses too much quantity of detail with little organizational clarity. Fewer and more substantive examples would prove helpful. The book seems ideal for a liberal arts college, there is plenty of text but much is mathematical style over substance. The reader, however, will at least be left with a clear conceptual understanding of salient topics in discrete math.

Rating:
Summary: well-written book w/ enough mathematical rigor
Review: This book is very accessible. Although the myriad examples and descriptions keep the main points hidden a few times, this book is great for self study--something to consider if you have a bad teacher.