mathematical gem--freshly cleaned and polished
This book is intended to be used as the text for a first course in combinatorics. the text has been shaped by two goals, namely, to make complex mathematics accessible to students with a wide range of abilities, interests, and motivations; and to create a pedagogical tool, useful to the broad spectrum of instructors who bring a variety of perspectives and expectations to such a course.

Features retained from the first edition:
* Lively and engaging writing style
* Timely and appropriate examples
* Numerous well-chosen exercises
* Flexible modular format
* Optional sections and appendices
Highlights of Second Edition enhancements:
* Smoothed and polished exposition, with a sharpened focus on key ideas
* Expanded discussion of linear codes
* New optional section on algorithms
* Greatly expanded hints and answers section
* Many new exercises and examples