What is Discrete Math?
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Transcript of What is Discrete Math?
WHAT IS DISCRETE MATH?Fall 2014Day 1
Sarah Spence Adams
Professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering
Some slides and graphics adapted from Denise Troxell
DISCRETE MEANS…
Discrete: consisting of distinct or unconnected elements taking on or having a finite or countably infinite
number of values
Not Continuous: Real numbers are no longer the base Integers are the primary tool
WHY DISCRETE?
DM provides models and tools for real world phenomena that change abruptly or have distinct states
DM has become increasingly important in the digital/computer age
DM INTERSECTS OTHER AREAS
Computer Science Electrical Engineering Operations Research Probability Statistics Number Theory Cryptology Group Theory Graph Theory Coding Theory Set Theory Logic, and more
APPLICATIONS algorithms network flows telephone routing delivery routes computer networks airplane schedules personnel assignments genetics election procedures secure and reliable wireless communications design of statistical experiments bin packing, and more…
MORE ON APPLICATIONS
Software engineering – uses sets, graphs, trees, and other structures
Analysis of algorithms – requires ability to count number of operations, proofs of correctness
Recursive algorithms – require solution to recurrence relations, proofs of correctness through induction
Cryptology – requires number theory
AI – requires logic
Theory of computation and compiler design – requires proofs including proofs by induction
WHAT’S IN STORE THIS SEMESTER?
Learn how to count!
You may be surprised that counting certain things can be really, really hard!
But you may also be surprised at how good you’ll get at counting!
COUNT THINGS LIKE..
Number of ways to buy a dozen donuts from a choice of 32 different varieties
Number of ways to triangulate an n-gon
Number of ways to configure a network so that certain connectivity requirements are met
Number of ways to assign students to groups, considering certain constraints on student preferences
THE PIGEON-HOLE PRINCIPLE
Learn how to use pigeons to “unlock the common sense in your head”
FIND OUT HOW MANY COLORS IT TAKES TO COLOR ANY MAP SUCH THAT NO “NEIGHBOR STATES” HAVE THE SAME COLOR
LEARN ABOUT THE KÖNIGSBERG BRIDGE PROBLEM
Is it possible? Start at locations a, b, c, or dCross each bridge exactly onceReturn to the starting location
a
c
d
b
River Pregel
Euler - 1736
STUDY HOW THE NASA MARINER MISSION SENT PICTURES BACK TO EARTH
UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF ISBN AND UPC
DISCOVER WHY THIS IS PERHAPS THE COOLEST FIGURE IN MATHEMATICS
RSA CRYPTOSYSTEM
Learn how the famous RSA algorithm actually works
LEARN HOW TO PROVE THINGS LIKE:
Every amount of postage of 12 cents or more can be formed using just 4-cent and 5-cent stamps.
For all positive integers n, a 2n x 2n
chessboard with one square removed can be tiled using L-shaped pieces, where these pieces cover 3 squares at a time, as shown
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT? Work lots of hard but fun problems
Learn to argue clearly, convincingly, and flawlessly
Improve technical writing and presentation skills
Investigate topics in small groups
Participate actively in class
Get help early and often
Work closely with classmates and professor
NUMBER 1 PIECE OF ADVICE FROM PREVIOUS STUDENTS
Do Practice Problems