In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman

William J. Cook is a combinatorics and optimization professor at the University of Waterloo. He cowrote The Traveling Salesman Problem: A Computational Study (Princeton). In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman by William J. Cook tells the story of one of mathematics' most difficult unresolved problems.

What is the quickest possible route for a traveling salesman who wants to visit each location on a list once and then return to his starting point? The traveling salesman problem appears easy enough, yet it is one of the most actively studied issues in practical mathematics, and it has eluded solution to this day. In this book, William Cook takes readers on a mathematical journey, beginning in the 1800s, when Irish mathematician W. R. Hamilton first defined the problem, and ending at the cutting edge of today's state-of-the-art attempts to solve it. He also investigates its several essential uses, which range from genome sequencing and computer chip design to music composition and planet searching.

In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman takes you to the edge of your understanding of the nature of complexity and dares you to solve this enthralling mathematical puzzle. The technical specifics are given precisely, but the basic mathematical concepts are conveyed in an informal manner so that readers without a strong mathematical background can understand the story as well.... The book is filled with examples, real-world applications, and historical events, making it a joy to read.

Author: William J. Cook

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691163529

Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars (from 48 reviews)

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