Hey everyone! I'm about to start my freshman year in computer science and I'm curious about which math topics I should dive into beforehand. I've heard people say that computer science feels like a 'glorified math degree.' I did alright in high school math, but I tend to forget everything after tests. I realized recently that memorizing isn't the same as really understanding the material. Right now, I'm using Khan Academy for math, and I'd appreciate any advice on which subjects I should focus on first and if there are any other resources you recommend. By the way, I'm also learning to code but want to make time to get a solid grip on the math side too!
4 Answers
You should definitely tackle Calculus 1 and 2, along with Linear Algebra. These will be crucial for your CS courses! Also, don't forget about Discrete Mathematics; it's super important for programming and algorithms too.
Make sure to refresh your Arithmetic and Algebra skills. Depending on your interests, Geometry and Kinematics could also be useful, especially if you want to work in game dev or simulations. Remember, you’ll learn more about specific math for CS during your degree, like Discrete Maths or Algorithms. It’s important to have the basics down first!
Thank you so much for your insights!
I recommend getting familiar with some basic logic concepts, such as propositional and predicate logic, along with set theory. The first two chapters of the book 'How to Prove It' are a great resource to start with. Having a solid understanding of logic will make many topics in CS easier to grasp.
Just a heads up, while math is foundational to computer science, it’s not all there is! You'll take Calculus and Linear Algebra, but it’s not like CS builds directly on those subjects. It’s better to spend some time learning programming concepts too, like through a course like CS50.
I’m actually taking CS50 right now, but I want to get ahead with the math as well.
Thanks! I have a lot of catching up to do with calculus.