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Difference between Discrete Structures and Discrete Mathematics


I haven't yet found a good answer. Or any answer, for that matter. I've been asked to teach a discrete structures for CS course, but at the same time make sure it's not a discrete mathematics course -- that's offered by the Mathematics department.

Many colleges offer a discrete structures course. There are also many DS textbooks. But when I look at the course syllabi and the textbook introductions, the term "discrete structures" is never used; they use "discrete mathematics" instead. DS only appears in the title of the course/textbook.

Examples:

CS 381 at ODU

Discrete Structures entry at Wikipedia

What's discrete structures and how does it differ from discrete mathematics?


Solution

  • I have http://www.amazon.com/Discrete-Computational-Structures-Computer-Mathematics/dp/0124208509 which seems to be what they're asking for.

    Chapter 1 says "This is a book about structures."

    Always, since our interest is in digital computation, our structures will be discrete.

    I supposed you could split that hair and say "see, it's just discrete mathematics warmed over." While it might be true, I think it's only a matter of focus.

    It becomes discrete structures when the focus is on digital computation.