I am a freshman in college. I wanted to be a teacher, but I have decided that teaching in a public institution would be too painful, and private schools are not much better anymore. I have decided to chase another dream, which I hadn’t considered in a very long time (since I was about 14).
I want to get into computer science. Computer science is great because of its flexability, there are many options for the kinds of industries I could work in. Economics/business, robotics, games, ect. There is a problem however, I am terrible at math.
I skated through the highest math course I could take last semester, and got a B. I basically learned how to move numbers around in the correct way, but I don’t think I actually understood much of it.
Is anyone aware of any good books on math that can help someone actually understand it?
Does anyone have any tips on degree or career choices for computer science? Like is a graduate degree program worth it, that kind of information?
You should worry about programming not math. Math you need to pass the exams, but programming you need in order to be of use. Do you enjoy writing code every day for a few hours? You will learn the math you need to, but you can’t force yourself to like coding.
Oh and don’t worry. There are not going to be any numbers. It is not that sort of math. [evil laugh]
I live with 3 CS majors. 1 of them is terrible at math but he can still code well (somehow). He has failed calculus 3 times at the University of Tx at Austin.
Bad news though… the best paying jobs are with the government. Or with google, but they only get the best people (no offense). One of my roommates works with a cybersecurity firm.
Welcome to applied mathematics.
Take probability. It is very challenging. Complex Variables is a good foundation… lots of proofs of various difficulties. If you want to become a god at moving numbers around, take differential equations.
Marko - My degree sheet says I am going to have to take 4 calculus-es, and more, and I would like a good gpa. That is why I am worried.
I know learning how to program is hard, but I am not as worried about that because I have scripted things (games) and I get the difficulties of talking to a computer. I did enjoy the scripting, even when I was completely unsuccessful. I am like that.
Any International Series in Mathematics book you can find.
Also Springer-Verlag has a pretty good catalog.
Unfortunately, I think I’m choosing books that require a somewhat deep understanding of mathematics already (except, perhaps, Polya’s book, or, maybe some of Halmos’ undergraduate books…oh, perhaps UTM texts by Springer-Verlag would be a good choice?)
As a math teacher i wil say that if you can make it through the first two semesters of calc you are good to go. It is here that professors try to eliminate the “dead weight” from the programs. Usually this is becasue other math-based programs beg them to do so. An applied calc course is not as bad since it is for business majors.
Unless you like alot of dialog in you books, which if your looking for math entertainment try the book Zero: An Autobio, I would go with Schaum’s Outline of Statistics and Econometrics and/or Math Economics. They are great references. If you want help look to www.khanacademy.org
If you want a comprehensive, not a fun read type of math book, try Hawkins’ God Created the Integers
A mathematicians apology is an inspirational read also