Invitation to Discrete Mathematics is an introduction and a thoroughly comprehensive text at the same time. A lively and entertaining style with mathematical precision and maturity uniquely combine into an intellectual happening and should delight the interested reader. A master example of teaching contemporary discrete mathematics, and of teaching science in general.

Preface to the second edition; Preface to the first edition; 1. Introduction and basic concepts; 2. Orderings; 3. Combinatorial counting; 4. Graphs: an introduction; 5. Trees; 6. Drawing graphs in the plane; 7. Double-counting; 8. The number of spanning trees; 9. Finite projective planes; 10. Probability and probabilistic proofs; 11. Order from disorder: Ramsey's theorem; 12. Generating functions; 13. Applications of linear algebra; Appendix; Bibliography; Hints to selected exercises; Index

Jirí MatousekProfessor of Computer Science, Charles University, Prague, Jaroslav NesetrilProfessor of Mathematics, Charles University, Prague

`Review from previous edition 'The book is a self-contained introduction to discrete mathematics, and in particular to combinatorics and graph theory. It is aimed at undergraduate and early graduate students and encourages an active, problem-solving approach to the material. The book treats selected topics in unusual depth and from several points of view.' ' Zentralblatt fur Didaktik der Mathematik