ISBN9780073229720

many of the complaints that you read have some validity. i still like it more than most other texts available, because it nicely uses computer science examples (as is clearly stated by the author) AND has a VER through study guide.

Rosen's study guide is thicker than most texts. VERY detailed answers so that you can actually figure out why you got the wrong answer. i would pay more for the study guide than i would for 90% of the krapp being sold today. too many authors take the cheap cop-out of "letting the student explore on their own" = lazy author.

get the study guide, you'll be happy you did.

I gave 1 out of 5 stars to this book on my previous review based on the fact that my professor assigned a lot of homeworks, and many of them I found that there were no discussions/ or no related concepts represented in the book. Several of questions ask about the problems that the author never mentions in his text. I found myself in desperate situation with those questions, so I purchased a solution book in order to help me survive. The solution covers only even-number problems, whereas assignments were given only on the odd ones. Thing ridiculous is, for example:
* Question 35 (not exactly number) asks about the things the author never discussed, then if you go to question 36 in solution book to find something similar in order to help you solve q.35, all you will get may be like "by question 35, we have ..., then ..." Is that stupid? Many of these occur throughout the book.
Furthermore, the text is disorganized in some ways. Here one example:
** In chapter 4, Rosen discusses about the recursion by giving examples. One such example is that he uses recursive approach to define a rooted tree. The point is he never says a word about what the rooted tree is at first. It sounds like you use an unstudied object as a means for supporting your discussion on a new concept.
This somewhat drove me crazy and was the major reason that caused me to take the spite out on the book through giving negative review. When I finished my course, however, I had a chance to review the materials, and I realized that I was unreasonable in judging thing that way. Despite of those shortcomings, the book does accomplish its job which it is intended to. I got an A- from this tough class, which covered 11 chapters in only one semester, predominantly based on reading the text section by section and solving problems as best as possible. I decided to delete that review and give it a fairer review, as my acknowledging to its contributions to my study. If you are an audience who reads but does not very much care about solving problems, the book is fine for you; otherwise, it will be a bit painful.

This book, even though it's so popular, is certanly not the best out there. I agree with most of the negative reviews here, this book covers way too much of a material necessary for studying in the discrete mathematics class. Chapter 12 could be totally cut out. It does not fit in the subject of this book. Many many other sections can be skipped and make the whole book much thinner. These days, I noticed, authors try to make their books as thick as possible (thus making its market value high), putting in them unrelevant material, which only confuses students. While reading this text you don't feel like author really wants you to understand. I was totally freaked out when he says something like "...but this is left for the student as an exercise.." or "...student should verify..." Don't use this book if you plan to take this course online: you'll suffer because instructor's help is very necessary with this book.

This book takes simple topics and makes them look difficult and confusing by cutting corners on examples and introducing topics in brief and abstract formats. It also fails to provide any optimized techniques for computing answers to the problems discussed. This book also lacks depth to be a good reference text.

First off, I have read/browsed other discreet mathematics books, this could be the best, but I hope not.

There are two big problems with this book.

1.) The book introduces material in the end of chapter exercises... You get to squirm and struggle for air only looking at an answer in the back (if odd).

2.) Many approaches at explaining topics are more confusing than they should be. I feel truly sorry for anyone who needs to take a course with this book for computer science, and does so before digital logic. The greatest example of poor explanations is the chapter on boolean algebra. Had I not known boolean algebra from part of a chapter in Mano's Digital Design, and 2hrs30min in class + 1 assignment, I know I would have been in for a ride. I have to laugh at how bad this book goes at explaining boolean algebra, I avoided reading sections to make sure not to let the book confuse my already solid knowledge.

There are many other smaller problems in this book. I hope there is better out there.

I have to add in as a note, that the books biggest problem of introducing material via exercises, creates test taking issues. If your professor chooses problems relating to material introduced in exercises, and you did not do the exercises, you're screwed. I have a habit of not doing the homework if I read the section and understand it, that has worked until this textbook/course combination.