Discrete Mathematics: An Open
Introduction Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
What is the primary audience for the textbook 'Discrete Mathematics: An Open
Introduction'? - Correct answer-First or second year undergraduate math majors,
especially those intending to teach middle and high school mathematics.
What is the purpose of the textbook 'Discrete Mathematics: An Open Introduction'?
- Correct answer-To provide an introduction to select topics in discrete
mathematics.
What course did the textbook originate from? - Correct answer-The Discrete
Mathematics course at the University of Northern Colorado.
What are the main areas of study covered in the textbook? - Correct answer-
Combinatorics, sequences, logic and proofs, and graph theory.
How does the textbook differ from most other discrete mathematics textbooks? -
Correct answer-It is intended for problem-oriented or inquiry-based teaching
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,methods rather than providing a solid mathematical foundation for computer
science.
What teaching method does the author prefer for introducing sections of the
textbook? - Correct answer-A mix of group work and class discussion on
interesting problems.
What is the significance of the acknowledgments section in the textbook? - Correct
answer-It credits contributions from other educators and students that helped
improve the text.
Why does the author choose to cover logic and proofs together in the textbook? -
Correct answer-To provide context for students and avoid overwhelming them with
preliminary concepts.
What is the author's approach to teaching proofs in relation to combinatorics? -
Correct answer-The author found that spending too much time on proofs before
combinatorics led to lost progress, so they integrated both topics.
What is the intended outcome of using the textbook in a classroom setting? -
Correct answer-To consolidate discoveries made in class and serve as a reference
for mastering concepts and techniques.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What is the unique feature of the textbook in terms of format? - Correct answer-It
is available in an interactive online format.
Who are some contributors mentioned in the acknowledgments for their
suggestions and improvements? - Correct answer-Alees Seehausen, Katie
Morrison, Nate Eldredge, and Richard Grassl.
What is the ISBN of the textbook? - Correct answer-The ISBN is not provided in
the notes, but it is indicated as <phone>690.
What is the Creative Commons license associated with the textbook? - Correct
answer-Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
What is the author's goal for students who will not pursue graduate studies? -
Correct answer-To still provide an engaging and informative text that is of interest
to them.
What does the author hope to achieve with the inquiry-based classroom approach?
- Correct answer-To mimic an inquiry-based classroom experience for self-study.
What is the significance of the book's title 'Discrete Mathematics: An Open
Introduction'? - Correct answer-It indicates that the book is freely available and
serves as an introductory text to discrete mathematics.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, What was the original source of inspiration for the textbook? - Correct answer-
'Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics' by Richard Grassl and Tabitha Mingus.
When was the 5th printing of the textbook released? - Correct answer-January 7,
2021.
What does the author acknowledge about the presence of errors in the textbook? -
Correct answer-While efforts were made to reduce errors, some may still exist.
What is the author's educational affiliation? - Correct answer-School of
Mathematical Science, University of Northern Colorado.
What is the author's view on the traditional order of topics in discrete mathematics
textbooks? - Correct answer-The author believes that covering logic first can be
overwhelming without context from other topics.
What is the author's experience with teaching discrete mathematics prior to writing
this textbook? - Correct answer-The author taught from another discrete
mathematics text before writing their own.
What is the purpose of the introduction section on mathematical statements in the
textbook? - Correct answer-To provide enough common language to discuss the
logical content of combinatorics and sequences.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Introduction Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
What is the primary audience for the textbook 'Discrete Mathematics: An Open
Introduction'? - Correct answer-First or second year undergraduate math majors,
especially those intending to teach middle and high school mathematics.
What is the purpose of the textbook 'Discrete Mathematics: An Open Introduction'?
- Correct answer-To provide an introduction to select topics in discrete
mathematics.
What course did the textbook originate from? - Correct answer-The Discrete
Mathematics course at the University of Northern Colorado.
What are the main areas of study covered in the textbook? - Correct answer-
Combinatorics, sequences, logic and proofs, and graph theory.
How does the textbook differ from most other discrete mathematics textbooks? -
Correct answer-It is intended for problem-oriented or inquiry-based teaching
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,methods rather than providing a solid mathematical foundation for computer
science.
What teaching method does the author prefer for introducing sections of the
textbook? - Correct answer-A mix of group work and class discussion on
interesting problems.
What is the significance of the acknowledgments section in the textbook? - Correct
answer-It credits contributions from other educators and students that helped
improve the text.
Why does the author choose to cover logic and proofs together in the textbook? -
Correct answer-To provide context for students and avoid overwhelming them with
preliminary concepts.
What is the author's approach to teaching proofs in relation to combinatorics? -
Correct answer-The author found that spending too much time on proofs before
combinatorics led to lost progress, so they integrated both topics.
What is the intended outcome of using the textbook in a classroom setting? -
Correct answer-To consolidate discoveries made in class and serve as a reference
for mastering concepts and techniques.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What is the unique feature of the textbook in terms of format? - Correct answer-It
is available in an interactive online format.
Who are some contributors mentioned in the acknowledgments for their
suggestions and improvements? - Correct answer-Alees Seehausen, Katie
Morrison, Nate Eldredge, and Richard Grassl.
What is the ISBN of the textbook? - Correct answer-The ISBN is not provided in
the notes, but it is indicated as <phone>690.
What is the Creative Commons license associated with the textbook? - Correct
answer-Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
What is the author's goal for students who will not pursue graduate studies? -
Correct answer-To still provide an engaging and informative text that is of interest
to them.
What does the author hope to achieve with the inquiry-based classroom approach?
- Correct answer-To mimic an inquiry-based classroom experience for self-study.
What is the significance of the book's title 'Discrete Mathematics: An Open
Introduction'? - Correct answer-It indicates that the book is freely available and
serves as an introductory text to discrete mathematics.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, What was the original source of inspiration for the textbook? - Correct answer-
'Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics' by Richard Grassl and Tabitha Mingus.
When was the 5th printing of the textbook released? - Correct answer-January 7,
2021.
What does the author acknowledge about the presence of errors in the textbook? -
Correct answer-While efforts were made to reduce errors, some may still exist.
What is the author's educational affiliation? - Correct answer-School of
Mathematical Science, University of Northern Colorado.
What is the author's view on the traditional order of topics in discrete mathematics
textbooks? - Correct answer-The author believes that covering logic first can be
overwhelming without context from other topics.
What is the author's experience with teaching discrete mathematics prior to writing
this textbook? - Correct answer-The author taught from another discrete
mathematics text before writing their own.
What is the purpose of the introduction section on mathematical statements in the
textbook? - Correct answer-To provide enough common language to discuss the
logical content of combinatorics and sequences.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
