Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf] • Hacker News Board

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#51

Post by joepvd » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 8:14 AM UTC

chrisper wrote: post #44

pasbesoin wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$280??!! I knew prices were "high", but good grief! I guess I really am out of touch. Glad I held onto my vintage copy. Don't imagine the intervening 20-ish years have added circa $200 (at a guess) of value to the latest edition.

Yes. But why people buy books is what I don't understand. At least for college and if it's not something you want to own for the future. Throughout most of my semesters I just rented the books. Much cheaper than buying.

It really is a shame that this is a rational solution.

University text books should be material to get back to later in life, when confronted with a related problem. Part of university education should be a complete book shelf of well-understood books.

This just exemplifies the new nature of university education: An ephemeral experience where the most durable result is debt /cynisism.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#52

Post by kayoone » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 8:19 AM UTC

dizzystar wrote: post #45

impendia wrote: post #20

This fall I will be teaching the required "Discrete Math for CS course" to about fifty students at the University of South Carolina. Previously I used Epp's book [1] which in my opinion is an outstanding book but regrettably is $280.44. Many of our students are working minimum wage jobs to make ends meet, and I don't want to make them pay so much if I can at all help it. Lucky I saw this!! I do have one reservation t…

I'm not very mathematical, and I was much less mathematical when I worked that book (calc 1, not calc 2 yet, etc). I found it highly accessible and fun to work through. The concepts are all well-explained and I don't recall anything that would be out of reach for someone with some probability and foundations in classical logic. If they are at discrete math, this book is well withing their reach. It doesn't teach hard…

I am interested in which book you are referring to, the Book on Amazon Op lined too or the MIT material linked in this thread ?

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#53

Post by richardwhiuk » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 8:54 AM UTC

chrisper wrote: post #44

pasbesoin wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$280??!! I knew prices were "high", but good grief! I guess I really am out of touch. Glad I held onto my vintage copy. Don't imagine the intervening 20-ish years have added circa $200 (at a guess) of value to the latest edition.

Yes. But why people buy books is what I don't understand. At least for college and if it's not something you want to own for the future. Throughout most of my semesters I just rented the books. Much cheaper than buying.

I saw some information the other day which suggested that books can with access codes for online material (tests/exams etc) which was required for the course.

The other perspective is that if tuition is many thousands of dollars a year, then the cost may be not that dramatic.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#54

Post by Curious42 » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 9:00 AM UTC

kevindeasis wrote: post #33

It depends on the person, but what is the median time in hours, for a person to finish this book?

I don't think you should be starting with a goal to finish the book cover to cover. It's an unrealistic, and ineffective goal. Although, if you think that works for you, go ahead.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#55

Post by sn9 » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 9:06 AM UTC

trueSlav wrote: post #41

This is so stupid, the "primer on the basics" should be "Algorithmization for Computer Science", not a 900+ page math textbook (that doesn't even explore graph theory, calculus and differential calculus).

Calculus is a prereq for taking the course in which this book is used. I'm pretty sure Differential Equations is also a required course for CS majors at MIT, too.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#56

Post by nvarsj » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 9:13 AM UTC

Any opinions on how this compares to the Rosen and Epp books? I'm looking for something to prep for a graduate level CS algo course.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#57

Post by auggierose » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 9:13 AM UTC

joepvd wrote: post #51

chrisper wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. But why people buy books is what I don't understand. At least for college and if it's not something you want to own for the future. Throughout most of my semesters I just rented the books. Much cheaper than buying.

It really is a shame that this is a rational solution. University text books should be material to get back to later in life, when confronted with a related problem. Part of university education should be a complete book shelf of well-understood books. This just exemplifies the new nature of university education: An ephemeral experience where the most durable result is debt /cynisism.

I'd advise people just to get an iPad Pro and get electronic versions of these books. Makes for an eternal and ever growing bookshelf, and has been much cheaper to maintain than my previous physical library.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#58

Post by cs02rm0 » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 9:20 AM UTC

voycey wrote: post #36

I failed so hard at this in my CS degree :(

Yeah. I had what was termed a "tolerated fail" on what I think was the equivalent on my (UK) course - "Foundations of Computer Science". Tolerated as in because I scored high in all other modules I didn't have to resit, fortunately, as I'm not convinced I'd have passed.

I'm not convinced either that it's negatively affected my career. I do occasionally wonder if it was just not taught in a way I could get, whether I was just bored to tears because the theory was so separate from the application, or if it's actually just not that important a prerequisite.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#59

Post by madhusharma » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 10:53 AM UTC

whitenoice wrote: post #8

OCW Video lectures for the course - https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-compu...

thanks for great information and i will definitely look into these lectures.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science [pdf]

#60

Post by srean » Mon, Mar 06, 2017, 10:53 AM UTC

auggierose wrote: post #57

joepvd wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It really is a shame that this is a rational solution. University text books should be material to get back to later in life, when confronted with a related problem. Part of university education should be a complete book shelf of well-understood books. This just exemplifies the new nature of university education: An ephemeral experience where the most durable result is debt /cynisism.

I'd advise people just to get an iPad Pro and get electronic versions of these books. Makes for an eternal and ever growing bookshelf, and has been much cheaper to maintain than my previous physical library.

That's the received wisdom, yeah. The party line etc etc. I am not so sure though.

One has to factor in the possibility and ease of losing the device, or rights to the content that I have backed up on the cloud. Way too many people have the ability to intervene between me and the content. I appreciate the convenience of not having to move shit ton of bleached and pulped wood, but then I have to worry less about DRM, some raid in New Zealand, govt ordered deactivation of device, reading something that powers that be may not be to pleased about

I would like to read what the fuck I want with less power on others to influence that.