What is Discrete Mathematics

 Discrete
o Composed of distinct, separable parts. (Opposite of continuous.)
(discrete:continuous :: digital:analog)
 Structures
o Objects built up from simpler objects according to some definite pattern.
 Discrete Mathematics
o The study of discrete, mathematical objects and structures.

Discrete Structures We’ll Study

-Proposition -Strings

-Predicate -Graphs

-Proofs -Trees

-Sets -Counting

-Relations -Probability

-Functions -Combination

-Sequences -Permutation

Why Discrete Mathematics

The basis of all of digital information processing is the discrete manipulations of
discrete structures represented in memory.

 It’s the basic language and conceptual foundation for all of computer science.
 Discrete math concepts are also widely used throughout math, science, engineering,
economics, biology, etc., …
 A generally useful tool for rational thought!

Uses of Discrete Mathematics

 Advance Algorithm and Data Structures

 Programming Languages
 Computer Networks
 Operating Systems
 Computer Architecture
 Database Management System
 Cryptography
  Other related field

What is Logic

 Logic is defined as the study of correct reasoning.

 Started during the time of Aristotle, Leibniz, George Boole and Augustus De Morgan.
o First great treatises on logic were written by the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
o German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Leibniz conceived the idea
of using symbols to mechanize the process of deductive reasoning.
o the English mathematicians George Boole and Augustus De Morgan, who
founded the modern subject of symbolic logic.
 There are two kinds of logic inductive and deductive.
 Uses of logic:
o In mathematics, it is use to prove theorems.
o In computing science, it is use to prove that programs do what they are
supposed to do.

What is Variable

 Variable is define based on its use. It is used as a placeholder.

o You imagine that it has one or more values but you don’t know what they are
o You want whatever you say about it to be equally true for all elements in a
given set, and so you don’t want to be restricted to considering only a
particular, concrete value for it.
 To illustrate the first use, consider asking;
o Is there a number with the following property: doubling it and adding 3 gives
the same result as squaring it?
In this sentence you can introduce a variable (x) to replace the potentially
ambiguous word “it”:
Is there a number x with the property that 2x+3=x2?
 The advantage of using a variable is that it allows you to give a temporary name to
what you are seeking so that you can perform concrete computations with it to help
discover its possible values.
 To illustrate the second use, consider the statement;
o No matter what number might be chosen, if it is greater than 2, then its
square is greater than 4.
 In this case introducing a variable to give a temporary name to the (arbitrary)
number you might choose enables you to maintain the generality of the statement,
and replacing all instances of the word “it” by the name of the variable ensures that
possible ambiguity is avoided.
o No matter what number n might be chosen, if n is greater than 2, then n 2 is
greater than 4.