Good combinatorics books for self-study?

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SUMMARY

For self-study in combinatorics, the Schaum's Outline of Combinatorics is recommended as a valuable resource, particularly for students with a calculus background. The discussion highlights that while the outline serves as a supplement rather than a standalone textbook, its wealth of worked examples makes it a practical choice. The participant, a first-year physics major, expresses concern about the prerequisites for a college course on combinatorics, emphasizing the need for foundational knowledge before tackling advanced topics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of calculus, specifically Calculus 2.
  • Familiarity with introductory combinatorial concepts.
  • Ability to work through mathematical proofs and examples.
  • Access to supplementary materials like Schaum's Outline of Combinatorics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore additional combinatorics textbooks such as "Concrete Mathematics" by Graham, Knuth, and Patashnik.
  • Study online resources or courses focused on introductory combinatorics concepts.
  • Practice solving combinatorial problems using platforms like Art of Problem Solving.
  • Review mathematical proof techniques to strengthen understanding of combinatorial arguments.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for first-year physics majors, mathematics students, and anyone interested in self-studying combinatorics, particularly those with a foundational knowledge of calculus.

myranaira
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I am a first-year physics major (currently in calc 2) and was wondering if there are any good introductory/low-level books on combinatorics through which I could educate myself over the summer. My college is offering a topics course on it next semester, but I was told by the professor that it has high prerequisites and I probably wouldn't understand it at the level that it will be taught at. Because my college is a small institution, it may not be taught again before I graduate, which is why I'm looking into studying it myself. Any tips or suggestions? Also, will it be difficult to learn the majority of combinatorics topics with only a calc 2 background?
 
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Though I can't recommend you a textbook, I will simply point you to the fact that there is a Schaum's Outline of combinatorics amazon link.

Schaum's has a good record for quality, though they tend to be meant as supplements as opposed to a stand-alone textbook. With that said given the price it can't hurt to have one, if only for the wealth of worked examples.
 

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