Discrete Math
Study of mathematical structures that are fundamentally discrete rather than continuous.
Basic Concepts
Functions and Relations
Functions
A function is like a machine that takes an input and produces exactly one output. In discrete math, functions help describe how elements from one set are related to elements in another.
Relations
A relation shows how elements from two sets are connected. For example, "is taller than" is a relation between people.
Properties of Functions
- One-to-One (Injective): Each input has a unique output.
- Onto (Surjective): Every output value is used.
- Bijective: Both one-to-one and onto.
Importance
Functions and relations help us organize information, model processes, and solve real-world problems in computer science and data analysis.
Examples
Assigning a student to their unique ID number is a function.
'Is a sibling of' is a relation among people.
In a Nutshell
Functions connect inputs to unique outputs, while relations describe connections between elements from sets.