Modelling Computing Systems: Mathematics for Computer Science

by Faron Moller, Georg Struth

This engaging text presents the fundamental mathematics and modelling techniques for computing systems in a novel and light-hearted way, which can be easily followed by students at the very beginning of their university education. Key concepts are taught through a large collection of challenging yet fun mathematical games and logical puzzles that require no prior knowledge about computers. The text begins with intuition and examples as a basis from which precise concepts are then developed; demonstrating how, by working within the confines of a precise structured method, the occurrence of errors in the system can be drastically reduced. 
Features: demonstrates how game theory provides a paradigm for an intuitive understanding of the nature of computation; contains more than 400 exercises throughout the text, with detailed solutions to half of these presented at the end of the book, together with numerous theorems, definitions and examples; describes a modelling approach based on state transition systems.

516 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2012

Reviews

[Wieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful introduction to logic for Computer Science. With its everyday language and examples, it’s a relatively easy book to follow and understand. The frequent exercises, which immediately test whether you understand what you have just learned, are a great help. It also has a natural flow. This book is a bit outdated at times, with logical statements like “Every human is either male or female, but no human is both” (which is scientifically wrong), “Mothers are female parents” (which confuses sex and gender), and more. They’re not outrageous mistakes, but still pretty annoying to have to read as facts on my midterms. Besides that, it’s an effectively informative book, almost making my professor unnecessary. Almost.

[Eduardo Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livro veio como indicação do grupo de pesquisa. A primeira parte dele lida com coisas chatas da ciencia de computação mas quando fala de conjuntos fica muito legal.
Pra ser sincero eu nao li tudo integralmente porwue estudei na faculdade quase todos os assuntos mas gostei muito da abordagem do autor.
Tambem nao li em ordem. Esse livro dorme comigo entao uma vez ou outra na semana eu pego um assunto e leio...