Book Reviews

Abstract

The INFORMS Journal on Computing Book Review section covers books on subjects at the interface between operations research and computer science. We welcome books on theory, applications, computer systems, and generally any subject covered by an IJOC Area, or any combination of these. This includes both printed and electronic books. In addition, we consider comparative reviews, i.e. several books on one relevant topic. Team reviews are also possible, particularly for a large, broad-scope book such as an encyclopedia. Please send your suggestions for books to be reviewed to the IJOC book reviews editor. This issue contains two reviews of books in the area of computational algebra and geometry, which is of increasing importance in discrete optimization. Modern Computer Algebra, Third Edition , by Joachim von zur Gathen and Jürgen Gerhard is a general introduction to the field, suitable for use as a text or research-level introduction. It covers algorithms for problems involving integers and polynomials. Reviewer Michael Burr calls the book, “practically useful while theoretically complete, providing intuition for the newcomer while also pointing the expert to more history and cutting edge results.” While Gathen and Gerhard’s book serves as an introduction to the field, Algebraic and Geometric Ideas in the Theory of Discrete Optimization , by Jesus A. De Loera, Raymond Hemmecke, and Matthias Köppe (reviewed by Jon Lee), connects those ideas to optimization. Lee reports that the book is oriented toward researchers who know discrete optimization as operations researchers and mathematical programmers who want to learn about advances made possible by applying methods from other areas of discrete mathematics.