Discrete Mathematics By Olympia Nicodemi

As of 2025, the book is technically out of print, but used copies are available on AbeBooks, eBay, and Amazon Marketplace. Prices range from $25 for a worn paperback to $150+ for a like-new hardcover. Many professors have also placed PDF excerpts on their course websites with permission from the author.

For the educators and students who have had the pleasure of using it, the book is remembered for its clarity, its thoughtful design, and the passion of its author, a celebrated teacher who helped shape a generation of mathematicians.

The foundational rules of reasoning used to design computer circuits and programs.

| Edition | Publisher | Year | Pages | ISBN | Availability | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | US Hardcover | West Publishing | 1987 | 491 | 9780314285034 | Used copies via AbeBooks, WorldCat | | India Paperback | CBS Publishers | 1987/1989 | 491 | Not listed | Used copies via library catalogs | Discrete Mathematics by Olympia Nicodemi

Several factors distinguish Discrete Mathematics by Olympia Nicodemi from competing textbooks like those by Kenneth Rosen or Susanna Epp:

Because of the explanatory style and fully worked examples, motivated readers can work through much of the book alone. Solutions to odd-numbered exercises are often provided.

Rooted trees, spanning trees, and binary search trees, which are fundamental to computer science data structures. Unique Pedagogical Strengths As of 2025, the book is technically out

Partitions, equivalence classes, and modular arithmetic.

It is a recurring recommended textbook in Indian university curricula (such as Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University) for its alignment with fundamental discrete structures.

Nicodemi aimed to move beyond rote learning, focusing instead on building core reasoning skills that are vital for any problem-solver, mathematician, or programmer. For the educators and students who have had

This illustrates her approachable, metaphor-rich style.

If you are looking for a flashy, modern textbook with hundreds of colored diagrams, this might not be your first choice. However, if you want a of the math that powers our digital world, Nicodemi’s text is a hidden gem. It focuses on the "why" as much as the "how," making it a timeless addition to any mathematician’s library.

Every chapter begins with a practical problem (e.g., routing a network, scheduling tasks) to justify the upcoming abstract theory.

First published in , this textbook is highly regarded for its structured pedagogy. It establishes a robust mathematical foundation required for software engineering, algorithmic design, and theoretical computer science. 📘 Overview of the Textbook

Relational databases are based on set theory and relational algebra.