What math background should I have before taking any computer science course?

[Nocturnal]

What level math should I have behind me before thinking about trying another computer science course? Please advise, thanks a lot.

 

[Heisenberg]

Since when do computer scientists know any math? :Q

 

[ROTC1983]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
What level math should I have behind me before thinking about trying another computer science course? Please advise, thanks a lot.

You are going to need to know Algebra and Calculus to succeed...I hate math, so this is going to be hard for me...

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Since when do computer scientists know any math? :Q

I was going through the same thought...hehe... a little linear algebra can't hurt...

 

[her209]

Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division.

 

[Bignate603]

more is better but you won't use it too often

 

[notfred]

Discrete math

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: notfred
Discrete math

Yep.

 

[z0mb13]

it depends where you want to take the comp sci course in (like if you want to get into a comp sci program at a 4 year university)

Before I transferred to BErkeley, I took a lot of calc courses and also physics courses and a chem course.... it is kind of weird because I never use it in any of the cs course (not the case for ee course though)

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
it depends where you want to take the comp sci course in (like if you want to get into a comp sci program at a 4 year university)

Before I transferred to BErkeley, I took a lot of calc courses and also physics courses and a chem course.... it is kind of weird because I never use it in any of the cs course (not the case for ee course though)

Of course you don't use it, but does the logic of it all come into play at all?

 

[gopunk]

probability & statistics
combinatorics
graph theory
linear algebra

 

[rutchtkim]

Your basic Calculus I, II, and Linear Algebra.....than comes the stuff below

Basic Set Notation, Propositional Logic,
Truth Tables, Boolean Circuits
First-Order Logic, Predicates. Quantifiers
Mathematical Induction: Program Correctness,
Trees, Grammars
Relations: Closures of relations. Orders,
Equivalence Relations, Functions
Finite-State Machines


Counting: Binomial Coefficients, Permutations,
Combinations
Recurrence Relations
Discrete Probability:
Events and Random Variables
Conditional Probability, Independence
Expectation, Variance, Standard Deviation
Binomial, Poisson and Geometric Distributions
Regular Sets, Finite Automata
Graph Theory: Paths, Components, Connectivity,
Euler Paths, Hamiltonian Paths, Planar
Graphs, Trees



Solution of non-linear equations
Solution of linear algebraic systems
Approximation, interpolation
Numerical differentiation and integration
Solution of ordinary differential equations

 

[gopunk]

well it does depend on what the comp sci course is. some don't require very much prereq math

 

[DaveSimmons]

Most programming only uses concepts from algebra not calculus. Actually a formal logic class would probably do you more good than calculus. For database work you need a good understand of sets and set operations (which comes back to logic).

Of course if you want to work on scientific applications for someone like a biochem company you'd need a much stronger math background, probably a minor in applied math.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: gopunk
probability & statistics
combinatorics
graph theory
linear algebra

What about number theory, differential equations, mathematical modeling?

Not actually required, but while we're listing random math courses...

<--- never took any higher level math before taking intro cs classes...

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: gopunk
probability & statistics
combinatorics
graph theory
linear algebra

What about number theory, differential equations, mathematical modeling?

Not actually required, but while we're listing random math courses...

<--- never took any higher level math before taking intro cs classes...

So what was your highest math before taking the intro to comp sci class?

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: gopunk
probability & statistics
combinatorics
graph theory
linear algebra

What about number theory, differential equations, mathematical modeling?

Not actually required, but while we're listing random math courses...

<--- never took any higher level math before taking intro cs classes...

yea yea, so i forgot a few

diff eqs are more for computer engineering btw

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: gopunk
probability & statistics
combinatorics
graph theory
linear algebra

What about number theory, differential equations, mathematical modeling?

Not actually required, but while we're listing random math courses...

<--- never took any higher level math before taking intro cs classes...

So what was your highest math before taking the intro to comp sci class?

i believe here it is calculus I that is required, but you never use it. algebra is the highest we ever went in the intro course.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: z0mb13
it depends where you want to take the comp sci course in (like if you want to get into a comp sci program at a 4 year university)

Before I transferred to BErkeley, I took a lot of calc courses and also physics courses and a chem course.... it is kind of weird because I never use it in any of the cs course (not the case for ee course though)

Of course you don't use it, but does the logic of it all come into play at all?

of course!

 

[newbiepcuser]

Depending on the college you goto, most require up to Calculus and some linear algebra.



Programming is more about logic.

 

[Apathetic]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: gopunk
probability & statistics
combinatorics
graph theory
linear algebra

What about number theory, differential equations, mathematical modeling?

Not actually required, but while we're listing random math courses...

<--- never took any higher level math before taking intro cs classes...

So what was your highest math before taking the intro to comp sci class?

You should be just fine with basic algebra skills when taking an Intro to Comp Sci class.

Usually you start to need the higher math classes when you start taking core sophomore comp sci classes (e.g. every comp sci dept. has an "algorithms & data structures" class or two).

Dave