Talk:Introduction to Math for computer programming

The original content for this page originated at Topic:Math for computer programming. --JWSchmidt 17:05, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

More content - but what to cover?

Hello,

Well done for starting the page, and getting some content on it. However, it obviously needs to cover more than just number theory in order to be useful. I think the best way to help new programmers with maths is to give examples and suggestions of problems which are common to experienced programmers.

Linear Algebra, for example, has plenty of applications in programming. It is relevant to search engine theory, 3D programming, sequences (no more recursive fibonacci functions :-) ), and probably a whole lot more.

I have occasionally used techniques that fit into the "linear algebra" category while programming, but I've never had to use any calculus, so I would recommend new programmers to pick up a book on Linear Algebra (this one is good: Linear Algebra and Its Applications, by Gilbert Strang) rather than a calculus book. That's obviously just my experience, but if lots of people add comments, then perhaps we could construct a table of "What you want to do" => "Which topic of maths you should look into".

Cheers, Colin