Mathematical Maturity via Discrete Mathematics (Dover Books on Mathematics)

Designed for a one-semester course for undergraduate majors in math, computer science, and computer engineering, this text helps students take the crucial step from consuming mathematics to producing mathematics. Author Vadim Ponomarenko employs the general concept of discrete mathematics to introduce the basic knowledge of proof techniques and their uses. Like other beginning texts on methods of proof, this treatment offers definitions, theorems, and techniques. Unlike other books, it explains how to read, interpret, and use definitions, demonstrating not only general proof strategies — like proof of induction — but also the specific methods of thought for implementing these strategies. All techniques are built from scratch to provide an intellectually consistent whole. Each chapter contains several exercises, for which the author provides hints rather than solutions to encourage creative thinking.