"Concrete Mathematics" companion text? (Knuth light IOW)

Question

I'm interested in learning more of the math behind computer science, partly so I can dip into Knuth's TAOCP without my head spinning too much.

I've tried going through Concrete Mathematics but it's a little too much for me unfortunately. Are there books out there below this one but well above Math for Dummies?

I own discrete math books from Rosen and Epp, so those aren't what I'm looking for. Ideally, I'd like something that covers the same topics as Concrete Math --or at least close to it-- but at a slower pace.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Answer 1

A Gentle Introduction to Mathematics for Computer Scientists could be right up your street.

Answer 2

Another thread

generatingfunctionology

Proofs that really count

Answer 3

Have you actually tried to read TAOCP (The Art of Computer Programming)? Despite it's well-deserved reputation as the most important and definitive reference and textbook for all of Computer Science, I have always found it refreshingly easy to read. In fact, IMHO it's somewhat easier to read than Concrete Mathematics.

Yes, there are the occasional sections that get deep and dirty into some heady math, and when I was reading it thirty years ago, I would often skim over those paragraphs and just come back later if I found that I really needed to understand them. However, today the situation is much better, although my math skills have atrophied over the years, I find TAOCP even easier to read today because between Google, Wikipedia, and the Mathematica sites, I can almost always find on-line, a simplified breakdown of whatever Knuth is talking about if his description is over my head.

So, I would strongly recommend that you try TAOCP first (if you haven't already). Only then, if you still feel that it is too heavy, should you look around.

Answer 4

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I've had courses in probability and statistics, and discrete math, but even with those Concrete Mathematics is still a bit heavy. I'd like to find something that tries to cover most of the same material, but at a slightly lower level. I'll keep looking. Thanks again!

Answer 5

Try Combinatorial Problems and Exercises by Laslo Lovasz. IMHO the best way to learn combinatorics.