The Joy of Finite Mathematics

Chapter 1: The Usefulness of Mathematics Chapter 2: Logic Chapter 3: Sets Chapter 4: Counting Techniques Chapter 5: Basic Probability Chapter 6: Binomial Probability Chapter 7: Normal Probability Chapter 8: Descriptive Statistics Chapter 9: Geometry Chapter 10: Arithmetic & Basic Algebra Chapter 11: Finance Chapter 12: Game Theory Appendices: Charts and Tables

Chris P. Tsokos is Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of South Florida. Dr. Tsokos' research has extended into a variety of areas, including stochastic systems, statistical models, reliability analysis, ecological systems, operations research, time series, Bayesian analysis, and mathematical and statistical modelling of global warming, both parametric and nonparametric survival analysis, among others. He is the author of more than 400 research publications in these areas, including Random Integral Equations with Applications to Life Sciences and Engineering, Probability Distribution: An Introduction to Probability Theory with Applications, Mainstreams of Finite Mathematics with Applications, Probability with the Essential Analysis, Applied Probability Bayesian Statistical Methods with Applications to Reliability, and Mathematical Statistics with Applications, among others.



Dr. Tsokos is the recipient of many distinguished awards and honors, including Fellow of the American Statistical Association, USF Distinguished Scholar Award, Sigma Xi Outstanding Research Award, USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, USF Professional Excellence Award, URI Alumni Excellence Award in Science and Technology, Pi Mu Epsilon, election to the International Statistical Institute, Sigma Pi Sigma, USF Teaching Incentive Program, and several humanitarian and philanthropic recognitions and awards. He is also a member of several academic and professional societies, and serves as Honorary Editor, Chief-Editor, Editor or Associate Editor for more than twelve academic research journals. Prof. Tsokos has directed the doctoral research and been the mentor of more than 65 students. Rebecca D. Wooten is Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of South Florida. In 15 years of teaching, she has been recognized for her excellence in teaching courses such as Liberal Arts Math, Basic Statistics,

"This textbook includes the fundamentals of logic, set theory, combinatorics, probability, statistics, geometry, algebra, finance, and more. Aimed at undergraduate students in social sciences, finance, economics, and other areas, this liberal arts math text is said to be 'appropriate for preparing students for Florida's CLAST exam or similar core requirements. [.]

This book includes several topics generally not seen in comparable texts. I am very pleased, even impressed, to see that:

• Readers will encounter here an introduction to reasoning through the motivated presentation of basic logic. The use of a truth table to draw conclusions about a statement is a lost art now, rarely taught in secondary education and early college, at least in America. This dovetails nicely with the authors' electrical switching (parallel and serial) word problems.



• The book includes well-considered personal finance advice, fulfilling a very present need for practical education. It includes bankruptcy laws, savings instruments, insurance types, budgeting, sales tax, and more. Together with a few pages on considering renting versus leasing versus buying, this chapter is strong in the practicalities of personal finance.



• The syntax of proofs, including ? and ?.



• Induction is covered earlier and at greater depth than is typical.



• There is a deeper introduction to statistics, including the normal distribution, z-scores, and a very good introduction to normal approximation for binomial probabilities.



• A decent bit of geometry filling a gap I typically have to deal with by supplementary material, for example to explain "scalene" and the implication of an axis being "transverse."



• Set theory that goes deeper than usual, for instance reaching to "closure", etc. [.]