Questions tagged [discrete-math]
For questions about discrete mathematical structures and applying to courses with the title "Discrete Mathematics" or equivalent. Since this tag is fairly broad, consider using a more specific tag if appropriate.
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Mathematical induction without simplifying equations or inequalities
We discuss lot of questions related to mathematical expressions consisting equations or inequalities in mathematical induction. What are the examples where we can apply mathematical induction as the ...
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Math Proofs - why are they important and how are they useful?
My 13yr old has leapt forward in math during the pandemic. He's taking discrete math right now but is running into a bit of a wall with proofs. I have a feeling he needs to find reasons why they can ...
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Simple combinatorics problems using division
I would like to introduce counting principles associated with each of the 4 basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) before introducing permutations and combinations in ...
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3
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What's a good notation to show elements of relation composition?
Teaching discrete mathematics, we pose (from the textbook) questions on finding compositions of relations, notably, relations on very small finite sets with only 3 or 4 elements (as an introductory ...
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simple statistics (binomial) terminology
Say I have the problem: I roll a die three times and I am interested in the probability of ending up with two 1's.
My impression is that a single roll is called a trial.
What is the full 3-roll action ...
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History of discrete math curriculum
I will be teaching discrete mathematics. I’m wondering if anyone can tell me a couple topics that were classically in this class (in any undergraduate version) that were probably discarded over time, ...
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Is playing and teaching chess appropriate in private lessons?
I am giving tutoring to a high school student since more than one year and half. He is about 17 years old. He has excellent results in mathematics, being best student in his class for the last year ...
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Mnemonics to correlate the definition of "asymmetric relation" and "antisymmetric relation" with the terms [closed]
The definitions from Kenneth Rosen textbook are as :
A relation $R$ on a set $A$ such that for all $a,b ∈ A$ ,if $(a,b) ∈ R$ and $(b,a) ∈ R$,then $a=b$ is called antisymmetric.
A relation $R$ on a ...
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Which resource(s) to use to learn the following syllabus of discrete structures?
(YES) - included;
(NO) - explicitly excluded;
as stated from the IOI syllabus(2019);
5.2 Discrete Structures (DS)
DS1. Functions, relations, and sets
(YES)Functions (surjections, injections, inverses, ...
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How to summarize textbook material?
I'm taking a discrete math course. The textbook we use is such a pain to read because the amount of material is very overwhelming. For example, chapter 1 alone is 115 pages. And every subsection, 1.1-...
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College undergraduate geometry courses
I am interested in learning how a course in geometry is employed today
at undergraduate colleges/universities in the U.S.
On the one hand, such a course seems to serve as an optional (rarely required)
...
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26
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15
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What's the point of learning equivalence relations?
I teach an introductory discrete mathematics course at a community college to math and computing majors, usually in their sophomore year. As is common, it's partly used as the first foray into formal ...
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3
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4
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Textbook to study group theory as a part of Discrete Mathematics
I am a student from CS background. I have been following "Discrete Mathematics and its Applications" by Kenneth Rosen, though it is a good book, but it does not cover group theory. I would like to ...
- 213
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2
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Need to learn recurrence relation discrete mathematics [closed]
Which is the best tutorial available online to learn the recurrence relation concept and its solution in discrete mathematics, in a systematic way?
5
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Are there mathematical proof info-graphics?
I am teaching mathematical proof to kids (10th grade) and am of the opinion that proofs of theorems are a good place to start, where almost all of mathematics' important players come together.
On ...
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1
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What is the best way of introducing set theory? [closed]
The students are aware of mathematical logic and proof but have not come across any of the notions of a set. What is the most natural and motivating way to introduce set theory?
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2
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Is there any example of a "forwards/backwards" induction?
I like to make the "dominoes" analogy when I teach my students induction.
I recently came across the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BTWiZ7CYoI
In this video, a sequence of ...
- 23k
13
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2
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Teaching logic through "high school algebra"?
I am going to be teaching a discrete math class in the fall. One of the major goals of the course is a solid understanding of the basics of logic: the precise meanings of "and", "or", "not", "implies"...
- 23k
2
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3
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Easy tool to draw stencils
I'm looking for a simple tool (preferably online or at least that works on Linux) to draw stencils. When teaching and creating notes for students, I often feel that it would make understanding in some ...
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Questions similar to Wason Selection Task
The Wason Selection Task (described by Pete Clark here) is a great problem for getting students to grapple with all of the intricacies of logical implication.
I will be teaching a discrete ...
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1
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Tutoring Discrete Mathematics
A few weeks ago, I started tutoring a student in Discrete Mathematics (a subject I took a year ago).
I have previously tutored both pre-calculus and calculus, but never a proof based class. I have ...
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0
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Introduction of the power set as a collection of *labels* or *names* for subsets
The way that naïve set theory is usually presented in undergraduate education is via very concrete examples of sets, often involving non-mathematical elements. When power sets are treated, having a ...
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4
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Is Calculus Necessary?
That title is a quote from Fred Roberts:
Fred Roberts. "Is Calculus Necessary?"
Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Mathematical Education.
1980. p.52ff.
"Calculus is not ...
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5
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Solvability of Systems of Diophantine Equations using Modular Reasoning
I'll be teaching a U.S. college, freshman-level, pre-proofs discrete math course (for future teachers) this semester and one of the topics I like to cover is determining if a system of (usually linear)...
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14
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4
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Proofs that make theorems less clear
Teaching Theory of Computation for the first time, I encountered
a phenomenon which perhaps is familiar to others in different contexts.
I realize most MESE participants are not conversant with Th....
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8
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2
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6k
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Counterexamples to the Greedy Algorithm
In the graph theory section of my Discrete Math course I'll be covering Prim's Algorithm for finding the minimal spanning tree. I'd like to impress upon the students just how special it is that the ...
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6
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5
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Different approaches to proofs that "are the same"?
This question (and answers) on MSE got me thinking on simple examples of different ways of proving the same (hopefully somewhat interesting) result, as examples to be discussed on difference in ...
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Recommendations for free, basic resource on discrete probability for a discrete structures class?
I'm teaching a course this fall on Discrete Structures for Computer Science. It's taught out of the math department but is a service course for the CS department with 90-95% of students being CS ...
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3
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0
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Why is combinatorics not a part of the Tripos?
I do not officially study mathematics, so I always rely on what's on the internet. Specifically, I follow the schedules of the Tripos – the math program at Cambridge, supposedly one of the most ...
AsG
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Discrete Math text before a proof course
Our department has decided to offer a "Discrete Math" course that students would take before their "Intro to Proofs" course. The idea is that the Discrete Math course would focus on the computations ...
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Emphasizing the discrete in early undergraduate education?
From time to time, I have come across course ideas emphasizing the discrete over the continuous, such as Peter Saveliev's Fantasy Math curriculum (update: see also his material on discrete calculus) ...
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