Discrete Structures Lesson 1
Discrete Structures Lesson 1
by Ja y Mark T . Umba c
Prepared
NUMBER OF UNITS AND PRE-REQUISITES
COUNTED MEASURED
DISCRETE VS CONTINUOUS
Examples of discrete data
• –height of a person.
• –time in a race.
• –distance traveled by a car.
But this discussion is not about these two quantitative variables. This part only aims to fully help
and understand the basic concept of discrete structures. Now that you have identified the
difference between continuous and discrete, the real question here is,
• To justify why a particular way of solving a problem is correct or efficient requires analysis with a
well-defined mathematical model.
DISCRETE STRUCTURES AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Concepts from discrete mathematics are useful for describing objects and
problems in computer algorithms and programming languages. It is basically
applying the concepts of discrete mathematics to computer science which
creates the foundations of discrete structures.
WHY STUDY DISCRETE MATHEMATICS IN COMPUTER
SCIENCE ?
It does not directly help us write programs. At the same time, it is the mathematics underlying
almost all of computer science. Here are a few examples:
• Designing high-speed networks and message routing paths.
• Whereas the ideas of calculus were fundamental to the science and technology
of the industrial revolution, the ideas of discrete mathematics underlie the
science and technology of the computer age.
CONCLUSION
• In the end, we will learn to write precise mathematical statements that captures what
we want in each application, and learn to prove things about these statements. For
example, how do we state, in mathematical terms, that a banking protocol allows a user
to prove that she knows her password, without ever revealing the password itself?
• This topic may be difficult to deal with but it is always exciting to go in an unknown
adventure where you discover a lot of things along the way. All you have to do is be
patient and of course, study your plans (or your lessons) and get ready to come in a
battle prepared.