Mathematics for Computer Science

#1

Post by r15habh » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 6:41 PM UTC

Mathematics for Computer Science
courses.csail.mit.edu

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#2

Post by dhconnelly » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 7:42 PM UTC

I teach a number theory course to gifted high school students. I've been using these notes for two years now to plan lessons and find exercises. Great resource. You can also find more materials for the same course on MIT OpenCourseWare.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#3

Post by joshzayin » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 7:44 PM UTC

I find it somewhat strange that generating functions are introduced significantly before recurrences are (and that recurrences are introduced last!). Does anyone know why the authors did that?

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#4

Post by duaneb » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 7:49 PM UTC

This looks excellent. I also heartily recommend Knuth's Concrete Mathematics (http://www.amazon.com/Concrete-Mathematics-Foundation-Comput...)

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#5

Post by halayli » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 8:04 PM UTC

I really like this book, it start with the very basics: Discrete Mathematics with Applications (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0495391328/ref=oh_o04_s00_i...)

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#6

Post by etiam » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:06 PM UTC

Great to see it completed. The previous draft was salvation for my graph theory course. I think Mathematics for Computer Science offers very good understanding without unnecessary jargon or formalisms that obscure more than they clarify. Truly excellent introduction. In the same spirit I'd like to recommend the books of Walter Warwick Sawyer, and the "How to Ace..." books of Adams/Hass/Thompson.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#7

Post by strawbucks » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:23 PM UTC

I took this class (6.042) as a sophomore a few semesters ago. I wasn't terribly good at it. Additionally, the professor and staff were a real pain in the ass, so I didn't really have the best experience. I remember they were writing this text my year. They made us do reading assignments critiquing each section. They were basically having us proofread it for them.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#8

Post by swordswinger12 » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:29 PM UTC

strawbucks wrote: post #7

I took this class (6.042) as a sophomore a few semesters ago. I wasn't terribly good at it. Additionally, the professor and staff were a real pain in the ass, so I didn't really have the best experience. I remember they were writing this text my year. They made us do reading assignments critiquing each section. They were basically having us proofread it for them.

Perhaps a stupid question, but does the class at MIT cover this entire textbook in a semester?

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#9

Post by swordswinger12 » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:34 PM UTC

duaneb wrote: post #4

This looks excellent. I also heartily recommend Knuth's Concrete Mathematics ( http://www.amazon.com/Concrete-Mathematics-Foundation-Comput... )

This book has a great chapter on recurrence relations. Saved my ass in an algorithms course iirc.

Re: Mathematics for Computer Science

#10

Post by strawbucks » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:55 PM UTC

swordswinger12 wrote: post #8

strawbucks wrote: post #7

I took this class (6.042) as a sophomore a few semesters ago. I wasn't terribly good at it. Additionally, the professor and staff were a real pain in the ass, so I didn't really have the best experience. I remember they were writing this text my year. They made us do reading assignments critiquing each section. They were basically having us proofread it for them.

Perhaps a stupid question, but does the class at MIT cover this entire textbook in a semester?

Not stupid at all. Yes, as I remember it, this was pretty much all covered in a single, 14-week semester.