Connecting Discrete Mathematics and Computer Science

David Liben-Nowell

I think it is good that books still exist, but they do make me sleepy.
— Frank Zappa (1940–1993), The Real Frank Zappa Book (with Peter Occhiogrosso, 1990).
Several years ago I started writing a textbook on discrete math for CS: logic, probability, graphs, number theory, that sort of thing. It's written with an exclusively CS audience in mind, with the goal of including as many interesting/relevant CS applications of the core technical material as possible.

A revised version of this material has been published by Cambridge University Press as Connecting Discrete Mathematics and Computer Science by David Liben-Nowell. An older edition of the material was published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc as Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science. Linked below is a pre-publication version of this material, which is free to view and download for personal use only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale, or use in derivative works. © David Liben-Nowell 2020–2022.

Table of Contents (text file)
Front matter: Preface, Credits, etc. [April 2021 version]
Chapter 01: On The Point of This Book [April 2021 version]
Chapter 02: Basic Data Types [April 2021 version]
Chapter 03: Logic [April 2021 version]
Chapter 04: Proofs [April 2021 version]
Chapter 05: Mathematical Induction [April 2021 version]
Chapter 06: Analysis of Algorithms [April 2021 version]
Chapter 07: Number Theory [April 2021 version]
Chapter 08: Relations [April 2021 version]
Chapter 09: Counting [April 2021 version]
Chapter 10: Probability [April 2021 version]
Chapter 11: Graphs and Trees [April 2021 version]
Chapter 12: Looking Forward [new chapter; not present in April 2021 version]
Back matter: Index & References [April 2021 Index]

If you're looking for a solution manual and you're an instructor of a relevant course, there's one available via the publisher. If you're not an instructor for a course, then I'm sorry to say that there's no solution manual available.

Here is a list of known errata in the book.

There's a form for you to let me know of any typos or other comments, but I'm always very happy to get an email. Please get in touch if you have any other concerns, ideas, or comments, or just to let me know that you've used the book; I'd be delighted to hear from you.

— dln

Comments, errors, typos?
Here is a list of errata.

See something else wrong? Please submit feedback or email me. Thanks!

Interested in a hard copy of the book?
The publication from Cambridge University Press is now available.

Other book-specific communication? Please email me! I'd be very happy to hear from you.