Discrete Structures
What is Discrete Structures?
Discrete structures is foundational material for computer science. By foundational we mean that relatively few computer scientists will be working primarily on discrete structures, but that many other areas of computer science require your ability to work with concepts from discrete structures. This course includes important material from such areas as set theory, graph theory, and combinatorics.
The material in this course is pervasive in the areas of data structures and algorithms but appears elsewhere in computer science as well. For example, an ability to create and understand a formal proof is essential in formal specification, in verification, and in cryptography. Graph theory concepts are used in networks, operating systems, and compilers. Set theory concepts are used in software engineering and in databases.
As the field of computer science matures, more and more sophisticated analysis techniques are being brought to bear on practical problems. To understand the computational techniques of the future, you will need a strong background in discrete structures.