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Need to bring my maths knowledge up to date

  • 23-01-2015 12:40am
    #1
    neverlost64
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭


    I'm starting a computer science degree in September and was recently advised to brush up on my maths before then. My background is B1 ordinary level maths in leaving cert so I probably have a bit to catch up on. Would anyone have any advice on what sort of maths to focus on?

    There seems to be a plethora of online courses (at the likes of Udemy and Khan Academy) so I'd welcome some input on what experienced coders would feel most beneficial.

    Book recommendations welcome!


Comments

  • #2
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,663 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    Books: I'd recommend as a basic text "Good Math" by Chu-Carroll and then following on from that Statistics in a Nutshell. While there are many good math add-ons to language, a good tool to play around with stats concepts would be R. The visualisation & charting aspects are an aid to capturing the concepts and is a good skill to have.


  • #3
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    If you're only starting the degree then I wouldn't worry about it, you'll be taught everything you need to know. If you'd got a D in foundation level then I'd worry, but a B in ord is grand, you'll be fine.


  • #4
    CreepingDeath
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,016 ✭✭✭CreepingDeath


    MagicMarker wrote: »
    If you're only starting the degree then I wouldn't worry about it, you'll be taught everything you need to know. If you'd got a D in foundation level then I'd worry, but a B in ord is grand, you'll be fine.

    I disagree.
    I had a B in ordinary level and struggled with maths in college, especially calculus, manipulation of complex formulas, etc.
    ( 20 years ago in Kevin St college)
    I still have nightmares about college maths exams.
    But scraped through thank God!

    So I'd say it's definitely worth brushing up on your skills.

    Even from a job point of view, I'm seeing more jobs look for solid math skills, where they are developing analytical products against big data and the like.


  • #5
    L.Jenkins
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 19,240 Mod ✭✭✭✭L.Jenkins


    neverlost64 wrote: »
    I'm starting a computer science degree in September and was recently advised to brush up on my maths before then. My background is B1 ordinary level maths in leaving cert so I probably have a bit to catch up on. Would anyone have any advice on what sort of maths to focus on?

    There seems to be a plethora of online courses (at the likes of Udemy and Khan Academy) so I'd welcome some input on what experienced coders would feel most beneficial.

    Book recommendations welcome!

    Boards has a Maths Forum here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=380 Have a look online as well for some tutorials with real world applications. I was able to login to the Library for my College still after all this time to get an exam paper as an example.


  • #6
    Kinet1c
    Closed Accounts Posts: 824 ✭✭✭Kinet1c


    www.khanacademy.org - Anything I'd to scrub up on for starting my degree last September was on there, as well as most of the stuff in the actual degree maths class. Very well thought out and should get you were you need to be.


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