Preparing for University Math.

Lurk

Sup y'all.

I'll be going to University of Toronto for Computer Science come this September and I haven't done math in two years. Which is the amount of time since I finished High School. Between then and now, I was working and getting more mature.

I have no problems with the Computer Science part of Computer Science. However, the numerous math courses I would need to take scare the bah-jesus out of me (for the record, I'm atheist) because I am not sure I am prepared anymore. Can anyone recommend me books that I could use to get back in shape?

mooshoepork

I'd just get the books they plan on using. Get a good headstart. They'll probably be your best resource

clsCorwin

Go here: http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/

Hes got excellent math tutorials for algebra, calc 1-3, linear algebra, and differential equation. Brush up on your algebra, and even if they don't require it, take linear algebra. It'll be useful.

Smurph

Think about maybe starting at a lower level class rather than the one you would normally start at. When I started Computer Science, the first math class I took was real-deal Calc 1. It kicked my as and I had to take it twice because I wasn't ready for the pace and it was 100% new stuff to me. What I should have done was take Calc 1 for Business Pussies to learn the basic concepts of calc and then move on to the Scientist & Engineer version. Chances are you will finish your math before you finish your degree so it's not like this would make it take longer.

Big Dookie

How well did you do at Math in High School? If you did fairly well and you feel like you remember most of what you learned (or you think it will come back to you fairly quickly), you should be okay just jumping into Calculus and studying really hard to catch yourself up on the stuff you did forget.

However, if you're even a little unsure of your abilities, it might be a good idea to take a lower level college math course first, like College Algebra or Pre-Cal. Most of the concepts in Calculus are really not that hard, but what does many people in is all the tedious Algebra and Trig you have to do on top of it. I didn't really start college until six years after I graduated high school, and following that same advice that someone else gave me at the time saved me a LOT of time and headaches. Plus, taking a slightly "easier" math course will get your brain going and get you back in a state where you're ready to learn some new concepts.

And go to that site linked up above. I can speak from personal experience that he is an incredible professor, and his website has been invaluable to many of us over the last few years.

Andrew_Jay

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shadydentist

What was the most advanced math that you've done in high school? Are you worried about more fundamental things like algebra/geometry?

Awk

Lurk wrote: »

I have no problems with the Computer Science part of Computer Science.

Have you actually taken any CS courses...? Because i assure you they are filled with nothing but math.

Big Dookie

Andrew_Jay wrote: »

Also very likely you'll be using something written by James Stewart. I know he's built a $24-million home on the back of textbook sales.

Hah, that's pretty funny. Is there anyone that doesn't use Stewart as their main Calculus text?

Premier kakos

Big Dookie wrote: »

Andrew_Jay wrote: »

Also very likely you'll be using something written by James Stewart. I know he's built a $24-million home on the back of textbook sales.

Hah, that's pretty funny. Is there anyone that doesn't use Stewart as their main Calculus text?

I always thought Thomas and Finney was the calculus textbook that everyone and their mother used.

Demerdar

Start with precalc. If anything it'll get you back into the swing of things.

Diving balls deep into calculus after a 2 year math hiatus is definitely a very bad idea.