First published in 1976, this book has been widely acclaimed as a major and enlivening contribution to the history of mathematics. The updated and corrected paperback contains extracts from the original writings of mathematicians who contributed to the foundations of graph theory. The author's commentary links each piece historically and frames the whole with explanations of the relevant mathematical terminology and notation.
To most graph theorists there are two outstanding landmarks in the history of their subject. One is Euler's solution of the Konigsberg Bridges Problem, dated 1736, and the other is the appearance of Denes Konig's textbook in 1936. "From Konigsberg to Konig's book" sings the poetess, "So runs the graphic tale . . . " 10]. There were earlier books that took note of graph theory. Veb len's Analysis Situs, published in 1931, is about general combinato rial topology. But its first two chapters, on "Linear graphs" and "Two-Dimensional Complexes," are almost exclusively concerned with the territory still explored by graph theorists. Rouse Ball's Mathematical Recreations and Essays told, usually without proofs, of the major graph-theoretical advances ofthe nineteenth century, of the Five Colour Theorem, of Petersen's Theorem on I-factors, and of Cayley's enumerations of trees. It was Rouse Ball's book that kindled my own graph-theoretical enthusiasm. The graph-theoretical papers of Hassler Whitney, published in 1931-1933, would have made an excellent textbook in English had they been collected and published as such. But the honour of presenting Graph Theory to the mathe matical world as a subject in its own right, with its own textbook, belongs to Denes Konig. Low was the prestige of Graph Theory in the Dirty Thirties. It is still remembered, with resentment now shading into amuse ment, how one mathematician scorned it as "The slums of Topol ogy.""
Because of its inherent simplicity, graph theory has a wide range of applications in engineering, and in physical sciences. It has of course uses in social sciences, in linguistics and in numerous other areas. In fact, a graph can be used to represent almost any physical situation involving discrete objects and the relationship among them. Now with the solutions to engineering and other problems becoming so complex leading to larger graphs, it is virtually difficult to analyze without the use of computers. This book is recommended in IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal for B.Tech Computer Science, NIT Arunachal Pradesh, NIT Nagaland, NIT Agartala, NIT Silchar, Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, North Eastern Regional Institute of Management, Assam Engineering College, West Bengal Univerity of Technology (WBUT) for B.Tech, M.Tech Computer Science, University of Burdwan, West Bengal for B.Tech. Computer Science, Jadavpur University, West Bengal for M.Sc. Computer Science, Kalyani College of Engineering, West Bengal for B.Tech. Computer Science. Key Features: This book provides a rigorous yet informal treatment of graph theory with an emphasis on computational aspects of graph theory and graph-theoretic algorithms. Numerous applications to actual engineering problems are incorpo-rated with software design and optimization topics.
Mathematics didn't spring spontaneously to life, rules and definitions set in stone for all time. Its progress story has rich connections with measurement and money that have often shaped its development and driven its progress, a process that continues to this day. Quite Right explains how simple mathematical ideas have evolved all the way from prehistoric times so that they pervade almost every aspect of life in the 21st century. Most histories of mathematics look at the narrow role of professional mathematicians through the ages. Professor Biggs' sweeping tale is far wider. Making use of new discoveries of artefacts and documents, he reveals the part that mathematics has played in the human story and reflects on the nature of mathematics itself. The story reveals the power and beauty of mathematical concepts, which often belie their utilitarian origins. The twin paradigms of logical justification and algorithmic calculation recur throughout the book. Another theme is the relationship between mathematics and measurement of all kinds. No other book covers money and measurement in this way. Includes sections on: -- The origins of banking and interest in ancient Mesopotamia -- Using mathematics to keep secrets in medieval times -- The impact of tax and trade on the development of mathematics -- Financial speculation in our information age -- The role mathematics plays today in keeping you safe Quite Right is a fascinating story, suitable for anyone interested in the foundations of the mathematical world we live in. Norman Biggs is Professor (Emeritus) of Mathematics at the London School of Economics. He is the author of 12 books, including a perennial best-selling book Discrete Mathematics (Oxford University Press). He has a special interest in measurement and was Chair of the International Society of Weights and Scales Collectors from 2009-14. He served as a Vice President of the British Society for the History of Mathematics in 2014 and is an active member of the British Numismatic Society. 'This is a history of mathematics book with a difference. Instead of the usual chronological sequence of events, presented with mathematical hindsight (interpreting mathematical achievements from a modern point of view), this book tries to see things more from the context of the time - presenting the topics thematically rather than strictly chronologically, and including results and problems only when they fit into the themes EL the level of exposition is first-rate, with a far greater fluency than most mathematical writers can attain EL I am very happy to recommend it wholeheartedly.' Professor Robin Wilson, University of Oxford
For junior- to senior-level courses in Graph Theory taken by majors in Mathematics, Computer Science, or Engineering or for beginning-level graduate courses. Once considered an "unimportant" branch of topology, graph theory has come into its own through many important contributions to a wide range of fields -- and is now one of the fastest-growing areas in discrete mathematics and computer science. This new text introduces basic concepts, definitions, theorems, and examples from graph theory. The authors present a collection of interesting results from mathematics that involve key concepts and proof techniques; cover design and analysis of computer algorithms for solving problems in graph theory; and discuss applications of graph theory to the sciences. It is mathematically rigorous, but also practical, intuitive, and algorithmic.
This book discusses a famous problem that helped to define the field now known as topology: What is the minimum number of colors required to print a map so that no two adjoining countries have the same color? This problem remained unsolved until the 1950s, when it was finally cracked using a computer. This book discusses the history and mathematics of the problem, as well as the philosophical debate which ensued, regarding the validity of computer generated proofs.
Concisely written, gentle introduction to graph theory suitable as a textbook or for self-study Graph-theoretic applications from diverse fields (computer science, engineering, chemistry, management science) 2nd ed. includes new chapters on labeling and communications networks and small worlds, as well as expanded beginner's material Many additional changes, improvements, and corrections resulting from classroom use
