Outline of discrete mathematics

Updated on Jan 18, 2024

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to discrete mathematics:

Discrete mathematics is the study of mathematical structures that are fundamentally discrete rather than continuous. In contrast to real numbers that have the property of varying "smoothly", the objects studied in discrete mathematics – such as integers, graphs, and statements in logic – do not vary smoothly in this way, but have distinct, separated values. Discrete mathematics therefore excludes topics in "continuous mathematics" such as calculus and analysis.

Included below are many of the standard terms used routinely in university-level courses and in research papers. This is not, however, intended as a complete list of mathematical terms; just a selection of typical terms of art that may be encountered.

Subjects in discrete mathematics

Logic – a study of reasoning

Set theory – a study of collections of elements

Number theory –

Combinatorics – a study of counting

Graph theory –

Digital geometry and digital topology

Algorithmics – a study of methods of calculation

Information theory –

Computability and complexity theories – dealing with theoretical and practical limitations of algorithms

Elementary probability theory and Markov chains

Linear algebra – a study of related linear equations

Functions –

Partially ordered set –

Probability –

Proofs –

Counting –

Relation –

Discrete mathematical disciplines

For further reading in discrete mathematics, beyond a basic level, see these pages. Many of these disciplines are closely related to computer science.

Automata theory –

Coding theory –

Combinatorics –

Computational geometry –

Digital geometry –

Discrete geometry –

Graph theory –

Mathematical logic –

Combinatorial optimization –

Set theory –

Combinatorial topology –

Number theory –

Information theory –

Game theory –

Sets

Set (mathematics) –

Element (mathematics) –

Venn diagram –

Empty set –

Subset –

Union (set theory) –

Disjoint union –

Intersection (set theory) –

Disjoint sets –

Complement (set theory) –

Symmetric difference –

Ordered pair –

Cartesian product –

Power set –

Simple theorems in the algebra of sets –

Naive set theory –

Multiset –

Functions

Function –

Domain of a function –

Codomain –

Range of a function –

Image (mathematics) –

Injective function –

Surjection –

Bijection –

Function composition –

Partial function –

Multivalued function –

Binary function –

Floor function –

Sign function –

Inclusion map –

Pigeonhole principle –

Relation composition –

Permutations –

Symmetry –

Arithmetic

Decimal –

Binary numeral system –

Divisor –

Division by zero –

Indeterminate form –

Empty product –

Euclidean algorithm –

Fundamental theorem of arithmetic –

Modular arithmetic –

Successor function

Elementary algebra

Left-hand side and right-hand side of an equation –

Linear equation –

Quadratic equation –

Solution point –

Arithmetic progression –

Recurrence relation –

Finite difference –

Difference operator –

Groups –

Group isomorphism –

Subgroups –

Fermat's little theorem –

Cryptography –

Faulhaber's formula –

Mathematical relations

Binary relation –

Mathematical relation –

Reflexive relation –

Reflexive property of equality –

Symmetric relation –

Symmetric property of equality –

Antisymmetric relation –

Transitivity (mathematics) –

Transitive closure –

Transitive property of equality –

Equivalence and identity

Equivalence relation –

Equivalence class –

Equality (mathematics) –

Inequation –

Inequality (mathematics) –

Similarity (geometry) –

Congruence (geometry) –

Equation –

Identity (mathematics) –

Identity element –

Identity function –

Substitution property of equality –

Graphing equivalence –

Extensionality –

Uniqueness quantification –

Mathematical phraseology

If and only if –

Necessary and sufficient (Sufficient condition) –

Distinct –

Difference –

Absolute value –

Up to –

Modular arithmetic –

Characterization (mathematics) –

Normal form –

Canonical form –

Without loss of generality –

Vacuous truth –

Contradiction, Reductio ad absurdum –

Counterexample –

Sufficiently large –

Pons asinorum –

Table of mathematical symbols –

Contrapositive –

Mathematical induction –

Combinatorics

Permutations and combinations –

Permutation –

Combination –

Factorial –

Empty product –

Pascal's triangle –

Combinatorial proof –

Bijective proof –

Double counting (proof technique) –

Probability

Average –

Expected value –

Discrete random variable –

Sample space –

Event –

Conditional Probability –

Independence –

Random variables –

Propositional logic

Logical operator –

Truth table –

De Morgan's laws –

Open sentence –

List of topics in logic –

Mathematicians associated with discrete mathematics

Paul Erdős

Ronald Graham

References

Outline of discrete mathematics Wikipedia

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