Book Description

Adopting a user-friendly, conversational—and at times humorous—style, these authors make the principles and practices of discrete mathematics as stimulating as possible while presenting comprehensive, rigorous coverage. Examples and exercises integrated throughout each chapter serve to pique reader interest and bring clarity to even the most complex concepts. Above all, the book is designed to engage today's readers in the interesting, applicable facets of modern mathematics. More than 200 worked examples and problems, as well as over 2500 exercises are included. Full solutions are provided in the back of the book. More than 150 Pauses—short questions inserted at strategic points—are included. Full solutions to Pauses are included at the end of each section. For educators in area of discrete mathematics. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
Discrete math is complex enough for subjects to be explained extensively. That's not at all the case in this book. The explanations are too limited but most importantly, the wide range of expected answers REQUIRES this text to include most of, if not all, the correct answers for its exercises. This should not be a problem in this subject since having the answers would still leave you far from getting shortcuts; you'd still have to know discrete math well to pass a test.
This text was created ONLY to generate profits and lacks of any interest in the student's learning. It even looks like the author cashed-in his check and took a nice long vacation since his companion website is empty.
This book will only waste your money.

BORING
I actually have the first edition and not this one. However they are both boring. The two do not vary from each other. Don't attempt to read it for fun. It will bore you to death.

Excellent but hard!
This book is the best among all the Discrete Math Textbooks that I have ever read. First of all, it is hard! Secondly it is interesting. Thirdly, its ideas are well presented! If there are complete solutions provided, then it would be a perfect book on the subject. One star means best in MY definition and five worst. Just for fun!

It's poorly written; too few answers at back of book.
If you want to learn Discrete Mathematics without the help of a professor you're out of luck with this book. There are plenty of exercises to ponder and work in the book which is great, but there are very few answers given in the back of the book so that makes for an unusually bad situation. And I don't think there is an edition for faculty. With this book you'll need an excellent teacher to guide you through this difficult material. And if you're like me, you would rather know that you don't have to rely completely on the professor to answer the millions of questions you will definitely encounter throughout the text because teachers are very busy and usually hard to contact due to their limited office hours. Take it from a college student and don't waste your money on this utterly useless math book if you don't have to do so. It could have been written much better with the aid of a math major who, for the purposes of the book, would have needed to never have been exposed to Discrete Mathematics. Only this kind of person can point out the areas that are unclear. And there quite a number and I'm only on the second chapter. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With Visual Explanations, Edward R. Tufte adds a third volume to his indispensable series on information display. The first, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, which focuses on charts and graphs that display numerical information, virtually defined the field. The second, Envisioning Information, explores similar territory but with an emphasis on maps and cartography. Visual Explanations centers on dynamic data--information that changes over time. (Tufte has described the three books as being about, respectively, "pictures of numbers, pictures of nouns, and pictures of verbs.")

Like its predecessors, Visual Explanations is both intellectually stimulating and beautiful to behold. Tufte, a self-publisher, takes extraordinary pains with design and production. The book ranges through a variety of topics, including the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger (which could have been prevented, Tufte argues, by better information display on the part of the rocket's engineers), magic tricks, a cholera epidemic in 19th-century London, and the principle of using "the smallest effective difference" to display distinctions in data. Throughout, Tufte presents ideas with crystalline clarity and illustrates them in exquisitely rendered samples. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

examples where pictures really tell 10,000 words
In this third book by Tufte on graphics, he provides great examples through history where good pictures conveyed important information to decision makers and bad graphics left uncetainty and indecision. A great success story is the identification of the source of the cholera epidemic in London in the 1850s. With regard to the Challenger Space Shuttle, Tufte suggests that one good picture may have convinced the NASA engineers of the need to avoid launching at low temperatures. Great pictures, great examples and great advice are found throughout the book. You may not believe that graphs can be used to answer all scientific questions but Tufte will convince you that they are important and must be done right!

Delightful and Insightful
Tufte's third book concentrates on the communication of notions of change and difference, such as an explaination of processes or sequences of events.

One of the many delighful aspects of this book is the diverse and intriging sources of examples, ranging from 19th century bookplates and 20th century art to information kiosks and scientific visualisation. For me the most memorable section was his contrasting the visual displays presented to NASA advising them to abort the disasterous Challanger launch with Frost's investigation into the colera epidemic in 19th-century London. It might sound vague hand waving, but Tufte presents his ideas with incredible clarity and insight and his conclusions are applicable to a wide range of fields, from computer user interface designs to powerpoint presentations and scientific analysis of data.

You can probably guess I really enjoyed this book; as well as being engaging and informative it is beautifully written and stunningly designed. It's philisophic approach will not immediately appeal to everyone, but I enthusiasticly recommend it as essential reading for anyone who needs to communicate complex ideas visually.

For those of you interested in this subject area, I also recommend "Information Architects", edited by Richard Saul Wurman, which although more graphic design oriented has numerous excellent examples of the design processes behind good visual communication

Don't buy until you SEE it! You will be disappointed.
This book appeared fascinating to me. The book reviews appeared fascinating to me. But when I actually saw all of the pages inside I was really disappointed. Don't buy this one until you see it - you just may be disappointed too.

Learn how human information capacity affects your designs
An amazing book! While I'm not sure that it's worth giving up shelf space for, it's more than worth borrowing from your local library and reading.

The biggest things I pulled out of this were around information density and the capacities that humans have. This book provided me with a framework for looking at mediums of display to the user and to better understand how I can choose how much data and how to present it to best allow them to reason around it.

The examples are also beautifully produced and masterfully composed. The book itself is an amazing artifact!

Near the end, he talks about 'confections' and, while it was an interesting section, it was the one section of the book that it was difficult to pull out prescriptive guidance from.

Indispensable and Revealing Insights
Edward R. Tufte again raises the bar both on his scholarly treatment of how we portray visual information and on how books of value ought to me made.

His third book on information design, Visual Explanation: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative is, in his words, "about pictures of verbs, the representation of mechanism and motion, process and dynamics, causes and effects, explanation and narrative."

Within this book, Mr. Tufte first tackles tough, fundamental issues related to quantity, scale, and magnitude. Determining if a visual representation is honest or accurate may, at first, not seem a vital skill, but Mr. Tufte clearly shows how data and information can be distorted or manipulated and offers sharp observations to help one see more clearly what is presented.

He addresses methods of presenting and analyzing data, using the now classic medical investigative work of John Snow and the fatal flawed decision making that resulting in the Challenger tragedy, to build a steady, compelling argument that there are right and wrong ways to show data.

A chapter on magic and designing disinformation is full of anecdotes, examples, and illustrations about the how's and why's of masking content and diverting attention.

Perhaps my favorite chapter is The Smallest Effective Difference, a challenging but insightful primer on using subtle but effective visual distinctions to create compelling visual information.

The long chapter about visual parallelism treats a complex subject by offering a plethora of examples, all explained with a terse elegance. Students of typography will take a special interest in Mr. Tufte's treatment of letterforms.

How we use and react to multiple images and how to effectively use multiples to evoke repetition, change, pattern, and surprise form the basis of the next chapter. Mr. Tufte again reminds readers that good design must take into account how, when, and even where information will be used.

The final chapter covers what Mr. Tufte has termed visual confections, that is an assembly of myriad visual events to convey a story, make comparisons, merge the real and imaginary. Digital artists should switch off their Macintosh computers until they have studied carefully this chapter, replete with superb illustrations and laser-intense commentary.

Mr. Tufte self-publishes his books because no commercial press would indulge his demands for perfection. His books are wonderful not just because of the information he presents but also because they represent the craft of bookmaking. The printing, binding, the acid-free paper, inks, the arrangement of words and images---these books are to treasure when so much is disposable and fleeting. ... Read more

Book Description

The Sullivan Enhanced with Graphing Utilities series fully integrates the graphing calculator. These widely adopted books are known for their precise careful presentation of mathematics. This precision permeates the book and is particularly evident in the examples, pedagogy and exercises.This book includes coverage of linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions. In addition, this book discusses the zeros of a polynomial function, systems of equations and inequalities, probability, and conics.For anyone who needs to brush up on everyday or business-related mathematics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This was a competent book with one small problem.
College Algebra is quite authorative on the subject matter covered and helps the student grasp the key points as well as some of the finer points of Algebra. While I was in this course I had the most difficult time trying to find certain supplements the book suggested that were put out by the publisher. They had no knowledge of the material at the company but it was clearly stated in the text. All in all the overall text and message of the book was rather competent and illuminating. ... Read more

Book Description

Elayn Martin-Gay's success as a developmental math author starts with a strong focus on mastering the basics through well-written explanations, innovative pedagogy and a meaningful, integrated program of learning resources. The revisions to this edition provide new pedagogy and resources to build reader confidence and help readers develop basic skills and understand concepts.Features incorporation of AMATYC and NCTM standards-reflected in an increased emphasis on visualization graphing, and data analysis. In addition, Martin-Gay's 4-step problem solving process-Understand, Translate, Solve and Interpret-is integrated throughout. Also includes new features such as Study Skills Reminders, "Integrated Reviews", and "Concept Checks."For those in need of a graphing utility resource in intermediate algebra, and for readers who need to prepare for advanced algebra or finite math. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sometimes complex
This book covers many problems but lacks descriptive solutions. I could not get a good concept of how to solve the problems because most of the solutions were broken into several sections. This book does give some of the answers but again it does lack descriptive solutions.

I can't wait to get this book!
In my pre-algebra I and II classes, we used Martin-Gay's books. They were wonderful! They're easy to understand and follow with plenty of exercises. I was looking forward to using her books for Intermediate Algebra. I was extremely disappointed to find that the college switched to a different book...one that isn't helpful at all. I'm planning on using Martin-Gay's book along side our college textbook we now have. Hopefully, the lightbulb will be going on much quicker!

Very Complete
This book won't let you get stuck, it explains all concepts clearly. It offers a good beginning algebra review, and gives you a thorough dose of the tougher stuff.

I Wish I Had This Book in High School
I am not reselling my Basic and Intermediate Algebra books by the same author. These books explained algebra better than any book I've ever attempted to muddle through in the late 80's that's for sure!

An interesting math textbook!
First, I should share that I am the author ot this textbook! Next, I want to respond to the other review by saying that the criticisms are accurate for the premlinary edition, but not this first edition (with subtitle "Functions and Authentic Applications"). In fact, the first edition was not available when the other review was posted! In the first edition I completely rewrote the the text so that it is now really easy to follow. It even has a list of key points at the end of each section. The text has tons of current, interesting data sets that makes the course come alive. You will need to use a graphing calculator with this text. My students love using this text and I'm sure you will too! ... Read more

Book Description

Interest in graphs and their applications has grown tremendously in recent years-largely due to the usefulness of graphs as models for computation and optimization. This comprehensive, applications-driven text provides a fresh and accessible approach suitable for several different courses in graph theory. Written for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, for self-study, and as a reference for working professionals, it covers a wide range of topics in algorithmic, combinatorial, and topological graph theory. The authors present numerous applications and examples designed to stimulate interest in and demonstrate the relevance of new concepts. With its generous use of drawings, streamlined proofs, and concise algorithms, Graph Theory and Its Applications offers a less intimidating treatment of the subject. It also includes more than 1,600 exercises-from routine to challenging-providing a rich source of problems that test your understanding. In this text, the authors succeed in presenting the subject in a cohesive framework that transforms important techniques and analytic tools into a unified mathematical methodology. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

great, comprehensive introduction
Regardless of whether you just want to implement a couple of graph algorithms or get into the guts of graph theoretic proofs, this book should come in as a great resource.

In over 500 pages, this book covers a lot of ground beyond the basics, such as topology of graphs, graph operations and mappings, voltage graphs, and surface imbeddings. Definitions are very clear, propositions and proofs are stated very clearly, and there are shrink-wrapped algorithms if you just want to apply them.

Requiring no previous knowledge of abstract algebra or graph theory, this is a great resource to have in your bookshelf.

not recommended
This book was used for my undergraduate course in introductory graph theory, which was split between math and computer science students. I found that this book left to be desired. The definitions are imprecise and often inconsistent with those that are standard, and much of the notation used is not standard. I would not recommend this book as a reference or for advanced students.

A great link between math and computer sciences
Professors Gross and Yallen have written a great book on "practical" graph theory that can be used in math or computer sciences courses alike. The book is very well organized and its chapters can be read on almost any sequence, allowing instructors to skip sections or give special emphasis to certain more interesting subjects.

The text can be used in a one semester introductory graduate course in graph theory in a CS or math department, an advanced undergraduate seminar or as a reference book for an undergraduate course in discrete math.

Of special interest are the sections on Huffman trees and voltage graphs. The section on Hoffman trees is especially interesting to computer scientists. I believe this is the first book that devotes an entire section to the theoretical treatment of this very useful subject. Prof. Gross is a pioneer in voltage graphs and the treatment of this somewhat esoteric subject is lucid and complete.

Overall this textbook is excellent. The writing is clear and precise and the knowledge needed to read it is that of an advanced undergraduate student. However, the book could benefit from solutions to the exercises, or at least some selected exercises, some computer sciences oriented "practical" examples and projects and an instructor's manual.

A(nother) wonderful graph theory book!
This recently published book in graph theory has many unique features: (1) it contains a large number of figures that make it much easier to follow and understand the mathematical reasonnings; (2) it contains a lot more recent developments in the area that are not covered in general graph theory books; (3) it shows close connections of this area to other areas, in particular to computer science, which greatly increase the usefulness of the book; (4) the book is so well written that can be understood by people with very preliminary knowledge in mathematics (most parts can be understood by people with, say, high school mathematics).

I really like the book, and I recommend it very highly. ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone knows the small-world phenomenon: soon after meeting a stranger, we are surprised to discover that we have a mutual friend, or we are connected through a short chain of acquaintances. In his book, Duncan Watts uses this intriguing phenomenon--colloquially called "six degrees of separation"--as a prelude to a more general exploration: under what conditions can a small world arise in any kind of network?

The networks of this story are everywhere: the brain is a network of neurons; organisations are people networks; the global economy is a network of national economies, which are networks of markets, which are in turn networks of interacting producers and consumers. Food webs, ecosystems, and the Internet can all be represented as networks, as can strategies for solving a problem, topics in a conversation, and even words in a language. Many of these networks, the author claims, will turn out to be small worlds.

How do such networks matter? Simply put, local actions can have global consequences, and the relationship between local and global dynamics depends critically on the network's structure. Watts illustrates the subtleties of this relationship using a variety of simple models---the spread of infectious disease through a structured population; the evolution of cooperation in game theory; the computational capacity of cellular automata; and the sychronisation of coupled phase-oscillators.

Watts's novel approach is relevant to many problems that deal with network connectivity and complex systems' behaviour in general: How do diseases (or rumours) spread through social networks? How does cooperation evolve in large groups? How do cascading failures propagate through large power grids, or financial systems? What is the most efficient architecture for an organisation, or for a communications network? This fascinating exploration will be fruitful in a remarkable variety of fields, including physics and mathematics, as well as sociology, economics, and biology. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Inspiring
The author believes that human thought might be a small world, in the sense that one could reach any idea if he/she finds the right associations and "short-cut"s. The small-world theory is indeed one of those short cuts itself. It links many different domains and uncovers some interesting common behavior.

The theory is developed in a scientific manner with extensive numerical support. Rich literature reviews and many open questions make this book a good research reference. Complex observations are generally followed by qualitative explanations. However, some of the simpler derivations are not fully clear. I believe that adding a few lines here and there can turn this book into a textbook.

The book spans many different areas of science and a deep understanding of the related results may require some background. However, each chapter ends with a brief summary, allowing the reader to move forward if he/she finds the chapter difficult. In summary, as the author puts it, the book is simply the "end of the beginning" in an exciting new field.

Great scientific synthesis
The book takes a systematic look at the 'small world' graphs. These natural graphs have been discovered by graph theoretist as erly as 60's, but were not properly understood. The graphs are remarkable in their ability to cluster and scale lengths. There are fundumental connections between these graphs and complex systems, discrete dynamical systems, computation and information processing. Duncan has done a tremendous job in building experimetal and theoretical models trying to understand how these graphs come about and sustain themselves. Read this book.

Not as wide ranging as the reviews led me to believe
I read the review in New Scientist, and liked the sound of this book. When it arrived I read the blurb on the back, and was further encouraged by the fact that a Sociology Professor was encouraging students to read it. I was therefore expecting a reasonably tough but rewarding read (my math is at undergraduate level and somewhat dated, but I do make an effort). Instead with the exception of a few pieces of commentary, particularly at the beginning, I found the book virtually impenetrable because of the denseness of the mathematical modelling techniques used. I suspect this is one strictly for the experts, and those with excellent post-graduate math skills. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hornsby & Lial are masters of textbook design
As a Mathematics major, I have been subjected to the good, the bad & the ugly when it comes to textbooks. Of my mathematics texts, Hornsby & Lial definitely rise above the pack.

My Favorite Math Texts
I own four text books by Hornsby and Lial. Their books have been the colleges choice for two courses I've taken and my choice as a reference and backup to the other courses I've had. I wouldn't be without them. When a topic was unclear in my college text, I could refer to their presentation and always gain a better understanding of the subject. I totally disagree with the reader from Florida regarding graphing calculators. I own two, a TI-82 and a TI-86, and had no experience prior to taking a particular course. The instructor was able to guide and teach all that was needed for the course without loss of material to be covered. The engineer from Florida needs to take a closer look at his students. Most of these people have been mastering electronic games and equipment from a very early age. I doubt that they would find plain 'ole graph paper and a pencil more stimulating and interesting. I'm a 52 year old grandmother and I sure don't. Hornsy and Lial get my vote everytime and thanks to on-line ordering, I'm only s few days away from receiving the best they have to offer.

This book is absolutely horrible.....
The introduction of a graphing calculator, such as the TI-83, at this level of college course is absolutely confusing and ridiculous. Unless an individual has previously learned the graphing calculator, the student winds up spending more time fighting learning the calculator than learning the algebra. I am a professional engineer of over 15 years experience and have tudored many students in algebra at the college freshman and sophmore level. I cannot recommend such a book or the implementation of such teaching techniques for freshman and sophmore level college algebra courses. Students must learn the basics first, then learn such a beast as the graphing calculator. The TI-83 is much to complex and compounds the struggles of students trying to learn college algebra. College Algebra is already a "beast" to most whom enroll in it. Don't add another level of frustration to the students and aggrevation to the teachers. I dont disagree that the graphical methods should be taught, but use plain 'ole graph paper and a pencil. The web site is totally useless. The Graphing Calculator Manual is not readily available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Teachers!!! Please put yourself in the minds of the students. Make learning a positive experience. This book coupled with the Graphing Calculator only puts a bad taste, aggrevation, frustration in a students mind. Make learning a positive experience - DON'T USE THIS BOOK. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Clear, lively style covers all basics of theory and application, including Mathematical Models, Elementary Concepts of Graph Theory, Transportation Problems, Connection Problems, Party Problems, Diagraphs and Mathematical Models, Games and Puzzles, Graphs and Social Psychology, Planar Graphs and Coloring Problems, and Graphs and Other Mathematics.
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Reviews (6)

Chemistry, Neural Nets, Matrix Manipulation -- all here
While working on my math degree I wanted some light reading on Graph Theory for completing some side projects. This book hit the spot, and the examples saved me.

Chartrand uses applications from every field of interest (e.g. finance, Chemistry, Physics, games, social psychology, computers, etc.) Who would have thought that while reading a math book that a friendly discussion of social psychology would pop-up? Well, that's how Chartrand is able to keep us moving through the pages; he uses the common to reveal the mysteries of Graph Theory. Who doesn't know about the Tower of Hanoi or the Knight's Tour or the one-boat-fox-and-chickens problems? All of these classics make for ready connecting points, leading us into profound restatements of well-known problems. Not much space is devoted to creating artificial problems for which we must be convinced need solving, and so the book is rather thin (a real bonus for those of us who don't want to spend a month in a math book).

Picking up the book after having read it so long ago, I was happy to find that the chapters are nearly autonomous and can be profitably read by themselves -- so keep it as a reference and jump in as the need arises, you'll be both entertained and mathematically illumined.

My only complaint is that the writing style is rather thick with mathematical lingo (seemingly) for the sake of being technically pithy. I am not convinced that such is necessary for a good math book.

Excellent overview for those with solid math background
This book is excellent, especially if you already have a pretty good background in math. I don't... high school math through calculus, almost all of which I've forgotten. But the appendix gets you up to speed on the basics of sets, functions, and proofs using mathematical induction. That was enough for me to get a lot out of all but the last chapter, which deals with matrices and groups. Although I have to admit that I occasionally needed to read an example four or five times before I really got it.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in graph theory and to any serious software developer (which I why I picked it up). The ideas presented are directly applicable to that line of work.

Fantastic Book!
Most books assume that the reader has a month to carefully read the book. In reality, the reader often has a day or two and needs a solid understanding of the material but not a really detailed understanding. This book is great because it quickly and clearly covers all of the necessary concepts. What else can you ask for?

Great introductory book to graph theory
This book is really god and informative, the topics are clearly explained even to the most novice of readers. Many practice problems. Highly recommended for computer science major.

Student's perspective
This was the text used in my undergraduate introduction toGraph Theory. It is quite good, and cheap! It is the perfect text toget the flavor of the subject and spark interest in students to learn more. For a Prof. looking for an idea for a summer course, or an oppertunity to teach to non-math majors who need an upper level course, this is perfect. END ... Read more

Book Description

From the reviews of the first edition: ".... The book is a first class textbook and seems to be indispensable for everybody who has to teach combinatorial optimization. It is very helpful for students, teachers, and researchers in this area. The author finds a striking synthesis of nice and interesting mathematical results and practical applications. ... the author pays much attention to the inclusion of well-chosen exercises. The reader does not remain helpless; solutions or at least hints are given in the appendix. Except for some small basic mathematical and algorithmic knowledge the book is self-contained. ..."Mathematical Reviews 2002 This thoroughly revised new edition offers a new chapter on the network simplex algorithm and a section on the five color theorem. Moreover, numerous smaller changes and corrections have been made and several recent developments have been discussed and referenced. ... Read more

Book Description

Student's love Schaum's--and this new guide will show you why! Graph Theory takes you straight to the heart of graphs. As you study along at your own pace, this study guide shows you step by step how to solve the kind of problems you're going to find on your exams. It gives you hundreds of completely worked problems with full solutions. Hundreds of additional problems let you test your skills, then check the ansers. So if you want to get a firm handle on graph theory--whether to ace your graph course, to supplement a course that uses graphs, or to build a solid basis for future study--there's no better tool than Schaum's. This guide makes a wonderful supplement to your class text, but it is so comprehensive that it can even be used alone as a complete graph theory independent study course! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This book is $$$ for a reason
This book was an absolute hell to contend with. I've taken two courses in Graph Theory, using Robin J. Wilson's Introduction to Graph Theory and this cheap broadsheet, respectively. Wilson's book is the one to use! It's extremely well-written, even fun to read--the reviews on Amazon will bear that out.

In the second graph theory course that I took (to refresh and refine my understanding), the professor chose the Schaum text solely for its low cost--he thought he was doing the students a service. Hardly.

No thought whatsoever has been put into the readability of this book. The tiny dark-grey font on light-grey paper is a simple enough design flub that makes reading past even two or three pages at a time almost unbearable. Defining terms is seen as a chore to be compacted--a single page at the beginning of each chapter might try to define 10-15 terms, just to get them out of the way. It becomes a mess of bold print that the reader is forced to continually return to because the definitions come with no context nor examples by which to remember them. In the end, the reader realizes that 2/3 of the book is just list after list of badly-worded questions following under-scripted lessons.

Look, it's not even worth writing any more about, the text frustrates me so much. There's only two other reviews on this page, and I'd place money on them being written by the author himself. Save yourself the $$$ and the hassle, and just go buy Wilson's book. Trust me.

Good Book. I recommend it.
In general, the book not requires study in advance, but it is better for reference. I'm a software engineer and the book's treatment of "Shortest Path" and "Connectivity" problems is very usefull. Good for fast remember of the subject.

A smooth surfing into the amazing world of graph theory
In this book one can find a practical survey of both principles and practice of graph theory, with great coverage of the subject. The outhor provides a lots of solved problems, with losts of theory proofs and all with great clarity and common reasoning. The outhor gets you enter the subject step by step from the easy problems to the hardest with great skill. Also the algorithms on graphs presented in this book, and in general the algorithmic approach of this book are presented most clearly. You wouldn't leave this book until you'l finish read it and understand graph theory. Finally you would fill that at least on one branch of mathematics you are well sitted. ... Read more

Book Description

A stimulating excursion into pure mathematics aimed at "the mathematically traumatized," but great fun for mathematical hobbyists and serious mathematicians as well. Requiring only high school algebra as mathematical background, the book leads the reader from simple graphs through planar graphs, Euler’s formula, Platonic graphs, coloring, the genus of a graph, Euler walks, Hamilton walks, and a discussion of The Seven Bridges of Konigsberg. Exercises are included at the end of each chapter. "The topics are so well motivated, the exposition so lucid and delightful, that the book’s appeal should be virtually universal ... Every library should have several copies" — Choice 1976 edition.
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Reviews (3)

Concise and very well explained
Chapter on planar graphs is superbly done, with very easy to understand proofs and plenty of illustrations. Overall, a great introductory text

Graph theory in (good) words.
This book make you want to know more about graph theory. The concepts are first intuitively explained and then formally stated. The numerous examples are completely treated and then easy to follow. R. Trudeau devoted a large part of the book to the puzzling problems of planar graphs and coloring and explains them in a very pleasant manner. As a result, these problems almost appear as trivial (which of course is not the case).

The main criticism I would make is the following. This book is a corrected and enlarged version of another book. Unfortunately, the updating is not very convincing when the "four color problem" is a conjecture in the body of the book and a theorem in footnotes and afterwords.

A fascinating start into graph theory.
Mr. Trudeau has done a fabulous job of introducing graph theory in a way which is understandable and intellectually provocative. He mentions that some of the problems are easy, and that some have been unsolved. In both cases, they both are fully illustrative of the subject matter. If you want to begin exploring graph theory, this book is for you! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The worst book in graph theory
I have found this book difficult to read because of its lack of examples and theorems.Many famous examples and theorems are left as exercises.Many of them are too difficult for a beginner.The book just state some basic defintion and theorem without examples, and even some proofs of the theorems are not complete.Many algorithms are skipped or illustrated badly.I can give no reason for the beginner to buy this book. I would suggest the reader to see "A first Look At Graph Theory" by John O. Clark

Great introductory text!!
A great -and gentle - introduction to Graph Theory... clear definitions and examples, great figures, useful exercises, and even some clever quotes. Everything you could ask for - if only all texts were this clear and well-organized. This was my first foray into the topic, and Wilson's text made it enjoyable. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Easy way to learn
I'm using this book for review and like it very much. The presentation is simple and thorough, the examples are clear, and there are plenty of problems to solve (with solutions for odd-numbered problems). It incorporates using a graphing calculator into the instruction, and some problems ask you to use the graphing calculator to solve them.

I like the graphing and modeling approach to learning. Somehow it helps provide perspective to see the solutions numerically and/or graphically. I'd recommend this book over many of the others I've seen/used.

Get the solutions manual
This book does not have many examples to learn from and what they do have do not make it clear on how to procede with working out the equation. I strongly suggest that you buy the solutions manual for this book if you are able to locate it. ... Read more

Book Description

This book fills a need for a thorough introduction to graph theory that features both the understanding and writing of proofs about graphs. Verification that algorithms work is emphasized more than their complexity.An effective use of examples, and huge number of interesting exercises, demonstrate the topics oftrees and distance, matchings and factors, connectivity and paths, graph coloring, edges and cycles, and planar graphs.For those who need to learn to make coherent arguments in the fields of mathematics and computer science. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A great introduction
Some of the criticisms leveled at West's book by other reviewers focus on either the errors that appear in the book or the choice of material. To the former concern, I would certainly add my own lamentations about the errors in the book, but note that in learning from this text I did not find the errors grevious at all and West's web page is a good guide to reading around them if you find something that cannot easily be interpreted from context (which I could not). However, the later concern I see as too nitpicking, as the book does a good job of familiarizing the reader with a large breadth of topics, to be chosen at the instructor's disscression. Just covering some subset of the book proved to be more than enough material for a challenging and well-paced one semester class, as the book was intended. I found West's literary style eminently readible, and more to the point I have been able to go on in Graph Theory with an excellent preperation thanks to West's book, which I see as the real measure of an introductory text.

I can't recommend West's text enough. It is modern and well written, and it serves as a great introduction to a wonderful field of mathematics.

Unclear Statements
My professor gave me the section about Random Graphs to study. It nearly drove me insane; I came up with counter examples to West's theorems! Then I read the proof closely and realized West was proving the opposite of what I understood the statement to say (on more than one occaision within four pages). So, my next meeting with the prof, I asked him to translate what one of the theorems said, and he read it just the way I understood it the first time around. Now, his explanations are clear most of the time, but then West uses unnecessarily complex language too frequently.

Pretty good
Level of the book: 3rd-4th year undergrad or 1st-2nd year grad (pretty big range).

Don't let other reviews fool you. This book does an excellent job covering the material at hand, especially given the task West set out to achieve. The book basically stands alone thanks to thorough appendices and a fair amount of examples, plus lots of problems (mostly proofs). Because this material is proof-based, I cannot suggest that this book could stand alone, but that someone else should review problems and such.

When I first was reading this book, I ignored the appendices, and that was my downfall. Once I started using all the tools in this book, things started coming together. Because of the intricate design, I would recommend this book only to people who are serious about a thorough introduction to graph theory. That is, actually proving many of the theorems that play a central role in this introduction. For a simple introduction to concepts, I would recommend Trudeau's book, "Introduction to Graph Theory," which is a good read and introduces a few of the ideas and definitions of graph theory, but does not focus on proofs.

My only major quarrel with this book is that it is completely void of color! This would be EXTREMELY useful in this book because many of the diagrams are complicated and different color labels would make things much clearer (instead of bolding lines and such). The increased price of the book would certainly be worth the clarity from color. There are also some typos throughout the book, but none too major (that have been noticed).

Overall, I would highly recommend this book over any other, but consider waiting until an edition with color comes out.

What the???
This book is horrible for learning Graph Theory. It is hard to understand and follow. I don't recommend it at all, especially as a new student. It might be useful as a reference after you learn everything, but it's layout is crammed, crunched and unreadable. I can't understand the simple topics, I had to do internet research to decipher the text.

Bad Book
This is one of the worst books that I have read. Either I dont understand this subject or there is something drstically wrong with this book.

I used "Google" to find topics in Graph theory and could understand the topics but could'nt understand what this guy wrote. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a new edition of the now classic text. The already extensive treatment given in the first edition has been heavily revised by the author. The addition of two new sections, numerous new results and 150 references means that this represents an up-to-date and comprehensive account of random graph theory. The theory estimates the number of graphs of a given degree that exhibit certain properties. It not only has numerous combinatorial applications, but also serves as a model for the probabilistic treatment of more complicated random structures. This book, written by an acknowledged expert in the field, can be used by mathematicians, computer scientists and electrical engineers, as well as people working in biomathematics. It is self contained, and with numerous exercises in each chapter, is ideal for advanced courses or self study. ... Read more

Book Description

"The state of the art presented by the experts in the field." -- Ross D. Shachter, Department of Engineering-Economic Systems and Operations Research, Stanford University

Graphical models, a marriage between probability theory and graph theory, provide a natural tool for dealing with two problems that occur throughout applied mathematics and engineering--uncertainty and complexity. In particular, they play an increasingly important role in the design and analysis of machine learning algorithms. Fundamental to the idea of a graphical model is the notion of modularity: a complex system is built by combining simpler parts. Probability theory serves as the glue whereby the parts are combined, ensuring that the system as a whole is consistent and providing ways to interface models to data. Graph theory provides both an intuitively appealing interface by which humans can model highly interacting sets of variables and a data structure that lends itself naturally to the design of efficient general-purpose algorithms.

This book presents an in-depth exploration of issues related to learning within the graphical model formalism. Four chapters are tutorial chapters--Robert Cowell on Inference for Bayesian Networks, David MacKay on Monte Carlo Methods, Michael I. Jordan et al. on Variational Methods, and David Heckerman on Learning with Bayesian Networks. The remaining chapters cover a wide range of topics of current research interest. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Recommended, but not the place to begin
The title of the book is somewhat misleading, in that most of the research papers involve advanced issues concerning one particular graphical model, namely the Bayesian network. For this reason I highly recommend, as a prerequisite to this book, Finn Jensen's "Bayesian Networks and Decision Graphs". Jensen's book is adequate in giving a good introduction and overview of the subject, but not sufficient for calling oneself an "expert" upon successfully digesting it.

To its credit, "Learning in Graphical Models" has several well-written and interesting papers, but the tutorial papers just did not seem enough of an introduction for me to feel comfortable using it as a first source of introduction.

What I find most compelling about Bayesian networks is the fact that they seem both highly modular (which facilitates reusability and network interconnectivity) and can be designed in a semi-rational manner (contrast this with neural-network architectures for which few good algorithms exist for determining size and number of layers). For this reason I imagine they will be important players in future engineering projects that require learning and adaptation.

Simply Superb...
My area of research revolves around graphical models... Best Book... The book that introduced me as to how effective graphical models are... As stated in the editorial review, graphical model is the marriage between graph theory and probability and this book justifies the sacredness of this marriage! ... Read more

Book Description

The theory of graph spectra can, in a way, be considered as an attempt to utilize linear algebra including, in particular, the well-developed theory of matrices for the purposes of graph theory and its applications.However, that does not mean that the theory of graph spectra can be reduced to the theory of matrices; on the contrary, it has its own characteristic features and specific ways of reasoning fully justifying it to be treated as a theory in its own right. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A reader from Opole
It is the beautiful book. It can be addressed to all peaple which interested in graph theory and its applications (students and teachers). Congratulations for the author. ... Read more