Combinatorics: A Guided Tour (AMS/MAA Textbooks)

By David R. Mazur

Combinatorics is mathematics of enumeration, existence, construction, and optimization questions concerning finite sets. This text focuses on the first three types of questions and covers basic... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1470453002
• ISBN13: 9781470453008
• Release Date: February 2020
• Publisher: American Mathematical Society
• Length: 390 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.3" x 1.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Mazur’s A Guided Tour: Where Mathematical Rigor Meets Reader Delight

Professor Mazur’s Combinatorics – A Guided Tour stands out for several compelling reasons. One of its most distinctive features is the seamless integration of questions throughout the main text. Rather than relegating all exercises to the end of each chapter, Mazur embeds thought-provoking prompts directly into the narrative. This encourages readers to pause, reflect, and actively engage with the material as they progress—something rarely seen in traditional mathematics textbooks. It’s a refreshing and effective approach that transforms passive reading into an interactive learning experience. True to the spirit of the book’s title, “A Guided Tour,” Professor Mazur also includes sections called Travel Notes. These add a conversational tone, historical context, and delightful anecdotes that enhance the sense of an intellectual journey. They invite the reader not just to learn, but to appreciate the broader landscape and development of combinatorial ideas. Finally, it's worth applauding the accuracy and reliability of the content. In a field where even well-regarded resources sometimes falter—requiring errata or future revisions—Mazur’s meticulous care shines through. It’s a relief and a joy to study from a text where the solutions and reasoning can be trusted from the outset. All in all, Combinatorics – A Guided Tour is a thoughtfully crafted and engaging textbook. Hats off to Professor Mazur for creating such an exceptional resource—one that both informs and inspires.