I'm returning to university next spring to pursue a computer science degree, and I'm trying to figure out which math topics I should review beforehand. I completed Calculus I–III and linear algebra about ten years ago and did well in them, but I haven't used much of that material since. I'm currently working through an introductory Java textbook, and even some seemingly simple exercises—such as determining whether one rectangle fits inside another—are taking me a long time. What subjects or resources would be most useful for refreshing my knowledge, and has anyone else had a similar experience returning to school after a long break?
2 Answers
The exact requirements depend on the university, but most computer science programs include calculus, linear algebra, and discrete mathematics or finite structures. Reviewing precalculus and the basics of Calculus I would be a good starting point, especially if it has been several years since you took those classes.
If you understood those courses before, the material may come back faster than you expect. You likely won’t use much advanced math right away, so focus first on refreshing algebra, trigonometry, and the fundamentals of discrete mathematics. Statistics is also a practical subject to review because it’s useful in many programming fields. Your eventual area of focus—such as software development, data science, graphics, or security—will determine which topics matter most.
Probability and statistics are worth reviewing too. They’re commonly required or recommended and show up in several areas of computing.