Finite Mathematics: An Applied Approach

As a long-time teacher of mathematics and computer science at a small college, I have been called upon to teach nearly every class in the math and computer science programs. Finite mathematics is one of those classes and since I am always trolling for the best textbook; that is the context within which I examined this book. The coverage is certainly what I consider the material of a course in finite mathematics. The general subjects are, in order of their coverage: *) Linear equations, linear systems and linear programming *) The basic mathematics of finance *) Set theory and basic combinatorics *) Probability and statistics *) Markov chains *) Logic The exposition is smooth, readable and there are a large number of worked examples, which is the only way my students learn. Technology is included but it is very unobtrusive, a sidelight rather than a focus. A large number of exercises are included at the ends of the chapters and solutions to the odd-numbered problems are included in an appendix. I do not know when I will teach finite mathematics again, but at this time, this book tops my list of possible textbooks.