Looking for a good Combinatorics book.

In summary, the author recommends a book called A Walk Through Combinatorics. This book covers a lot of ground, and is not suitable for people who are not familiar with combinatorics. The author also recommends a book called Graph Theory which is very detailed and may be what you are looking for.
  • #1
Saitama
4,243
93
I find myself too weak at this subject. Even spending a lot of time on problems doesn't give good results. I can do the easier problems and sometimes a few intermediate ones but everyone knows that these kind of problems aren't really asked in the exams.

Anyone got some nice suggestions?
 
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  • #2
Since no one replied yet, here's some titles from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...ps&rh=i:aps,k:combinatorics&tag=pfamazon01-20

Also somewhere on PF there's a recommended book section that may list some books of interest.

You could take book titles of interest and search PF or Google to see if anyone has posted an opinion on it.

Searching on book: A Course in Combinatorics

I found this Google link:

http://books.google.com/books/about/A_Course_in_Combinatorics.html?id=5l5ps2JkyT0C

so now you could read it and see if it talks to you. Five Amazon reviewers give it a 4.5 star rating so I'd also read their comments.
 
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  • #3
jedishrfu said:
Also somewhere on PF there's a recommended book section that may list some books of interest.

Yes but searching for combinatorics gives nothing. :(

I knew I was not being clear in my first post. Sorry about that. I have looked at the book you said but that deals with stuff not in my course. I am not sure if Combinatorics is the right word. The practice sheet I am currently going through uses "Permutations and Combinations". I am basically looking for a book which deals with the concepts and techniques related to the problems given in the practice sheet. Here is a pdf of the practice sheet:

Go to this link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/37965558/Bansal-Classes-Mathematics-Study-Material-for-IIT-JEE

And head to page 43. It shows a page with title "Permuation and Combinations".
 
  • #5
jedishrfu said:
From your study material, it looks like this is pre-calculus. The stuff you need just prior to learning Calculus.

Have you checked Khans Academy:

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/trigonometry


also I found this book that got good reviews on Amazon perhaps others here can comment on it too:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1592441300/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Nah, I am not a complete beginner. I am not sure how did you think of Khan Academy after looking at the practice sheet. Were the problems too easy? The difficulty level of Exercise I is less than Exercise II in the sheet I posted but they aren't too easy, beginner level resources won't do me any good.

Thanks for your time jedishrfu!
 
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  • #6
A Walk Through Combinatorics by Bona is the one we use at my school. It's a very conclusive book. I'd definitely recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/9814335231/?tag=pfamazon01-20

This covers a lot of ground. I don't think it's fitting for people who aren't familiar with combinatorics though. Assuming you know the basics and you have a good math background, I'm sure it's exactly what you're looking for. I was very interested in graph theory, and this was very divulging for that. Hope this helps!
 
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Related to Looking for a good Combinatorics book.

1. What is Combinatorics?

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of counting, arranging, and choosing objects or elements in a specific way. It also involves the analysis of patterns and structures in these arrangements.

2. Why is it important to study Combinatorics?

Combinatorics has various applications in different fields such as computer science, statistics, physics, and biology. It helps in solving real-world problems, designing algorithms, and making predictions based on patterns and structures.

3. What are the key topics covered in a Combinatorics book?

A good Combinatorics book should cover topics such as permutations, combinations, binomial coefficients, generating functions, graph theory, and probability. It should also include a wide range of examples and exercises to practice the concepts.

4. What are some recommended Combinatorics books for beginners?

Some popular Combinatorics books for beginners include "A Walk Through Combinatorics" by Miklos Bona, "Combinatorics: A Very Short Introduction" by Robin Wilson, and "Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications" by Kenneth Rosen.

5. How can I choose the best Combinatorics book for my level of expertise?

It is important to consider your level of understanding in mathematics and your specific interests in Combinatorics when choosing a book. You can also read reviews and ask for recommendations from experts in the field to find a book that suits your needs.

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