A Beginner’s Guide to Finite Mathematics
For Business, Management, and the Social Sciences
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Beschreibung
This concise text takes a distinctly applied approach to finite mathematics at the freshman and sophomore level. Topics are presented sequentially: the book opens with a brief review of sets and numbers, followed by an introduction to data sets, histograms, means and medians. Counting techniques and the Binomial Theorem are covered, which provides the foundation for elementary probability theory; this, in turn, leads to basic statistics.
Graph theory is defined, with particular emphasis on its use in mathematical modeling. Matrices and vectors are discussed, along with several elementary commercial applications. The book concludes with an introduction to linear programming, including the simplex method and duality. Ample examples and illustrations are provided throughout; each section contains two sets of problems, with solutions provided for the first set.
Requiring little mathematical background beyond high school algebra, the text will be especially useful for business and liberal arts majors. Its straightforward treatment of the essential concepts in finite mathematics will appeal to a wide audience of students and teachers.
When elementary courses in discrete and combinatorial mathematics first became popular, they usually covered a broad spectrumofpure and applied topics. Most of the students were in Mathematics and Computer Science, with a handful ofbrave souls from other disciplines. Those other students usually found the courses quite difficult. However, the applications were useful in a numberofareas. The teaching of discrete topics has evolved into two streams. The more math ematical parts are studied in courses called Discrete Mathematics, and more ad vanced, more rigorous courses called Combinatorics, or named for specific areas (Graph Theory, Combinatorial Designs, Cryptography, and so on). Introductions to those areas of applicable discrete mathematics used by students in business, management and the social sciences are usually called Finite Mathematics, and e1ementary courses on this material are now standard at many colleges and uni versities.These courses are typically offered at the freshman level although many students take them later in their careers.
This concisely written text in finite mathematics gives a sequential, distinctly applied presentation of topics, employing a pedagogical approach that is ideal for freshmen and sophomores in business, the social sciences, and the liberal arts. The work opens with a brief review of sets and numbers, followed by an introduction to data sets, counting arguments, and the Binomial Theorem, which sets the foundation for elementary probability theory and some basic statistics. Further chapters treat graph theory as it relates to modeling, matrices and vectors, and linear programming. Requiring only two years of high school algebra, the book contains many examples and illuminating problem sets---with selected solutions---that will appeal to a wide audience of students and teachers.
Autor*in
W.D. Wallis
Themen in »A Beginner’s Guide to Finite Mathematics«
Combinatorics Counting Finite Mathematics Graph Theory Linear Programming Median Set Theory ksa linear optimization modeling programming sets statistics
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"The present textbook gives a concise introduction to finite mathematics. It covers the topics counting, discrete probability, graph theory, linear equations, and linear programming...It is well written and easy to read, with many examples and applications."
—International Mathematical News
"This concise book us desugbed for a one semester introductory course in finite mathematics and its applications for freshmen and sophomore students in business, management, and the social sciences...The author presents examples as "sample problems" in the body of every section, and these are usually followed by "your turn" exercises designed to test the reader's comprehension."
—ZENTRALBLATT MATH
"[A Beginner's Guide to Finite Mathematics] is suitable for self-studying the topic "finite mathematics" without visiting a course because of requiring little mathematical background beyond high school algebra. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants to have a first look at applied discrete mathematics."
—Simulation News Europe
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