Combinatorics, Second Edition

This book is intended to be used as the text for a first course in combinatorics. The text has been shaped by two goals, namely, to make complex mathematics accessible to students with a wide range of abilities, interests, and motivations; and to create a pedagogical tool, useful to the broad spectrum of instructors who bring a variety of perspectives and expectations to such a course. Features retained from the first edition are: lively and engaging writing style; timely and appropriate examples; numerous well-chosen exercises; flexible modular format; and optional sections and appendices. The highlights of second edition enhancements are: smoothed and polished exposition, with a sharpened focus on key ideas; expanded discussion of linear codes; new optional section on algorithms; greatly expanded hints and answers section; and many new exercises and examples.