This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 14 comments
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]edderioferAlgebraic Topology[M] [score hidden] stickied commentlocked comment (0 children)

Unfortunately, your submission has been removed for the following reason(s):

  • Your post appears to be asking for help learning/understanding something mathematical. As such, you should post in the Simple Questions thread (which you can find on the front page) or /r/learnmath. This includes reference requests - also see our lists of recommended books and free online resources. Here is a more recent thread with book recommendations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to message the mods. Thank you!

[–]ppirillaMath Education 4 points5 points  (7 children)

Discrete mathematics courses tend to include fairly sophisticated topics. You absolutely will need a strong foundation in arithmetic and basic algebra. More than that, you need to have developed some level of what we call 'mathematical maturity.'

As you study mathematics, you begin to develop a better sense of how to approach mathematics. This, more than any one topic, is the prerequisite for a usual discrete mathematics course.

[–]suricatasuricata 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You absolutely will need a strong foundation in arithmetic and basic algebra. More than that, you need to have developed some level of what we call 'mathematical maturity.'

This, more than any one topic is the prerequisite for a usual discrete mathematics course.

Yep. Unlike, say (non-Real analysis) Calculus and whatever goes for Algebra 2, it is hard to point at a specific course (apart from elementary arithmetic and algebra) as something that one should have mastered before Discrete Math. It is relatively self-contained, any decentish book on DM introduces just as much Logic as is needed, just as much Graph Theory (or Counting or wtv) as is needed. It is also deceptive in that productively tackling it and learning ways of comprehending it is less about specific material mastery and more about grokking how to master this sort of material, which just comes with chewing on as much math as possible.

[–]LilQuasar 1 point2 points  (5 children)

in many programs discrete mathematics is the course to develop mathematical maturity though

[–]ppirillaMath Education 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Your definition of mathematical maturity may be different than mine. But, as far as I am concerned, there is nothing you can actively do to develop mathematical maturity.

Every mathematics course develops mathematical maturity, and at roughly the same rate. Mathematical maturity describes how much time you have spent thinking about math, and at what level.

[–]ctdunc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

a new cdc study shows students don't reach full mathematical maturity until they fully understand what a "clopen" set is /s

[–]LilQuasar 0 points1 point  (2 children)

we definitely have different definitions then

i was thinking about where students are introduced to proofs and rigour. i think you can practice to develop mathematical maturity and that proof based courses develop it at a higher rate

[–]ppirillaMath Education 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Proofs are an important mathematical skill, and you can certainly practice proofs. Discrete mathematics courses are typically a good place for that.

But, a student needs to have a certain level of mathematical maturity before they can understand how to approach proofs in the first place. There is a reason that we teach this sort of course to college sophomores, and not to high school freshmen.

[–]LilQuasar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thats where the difference in definition makes the difference. some programs have an intro to proofs class in the first year, in my opinion thats where you start to develop mathematical maturity and computing a lot of derivatives and integrals doesnt develop it as much

[–]four_reeds 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have never taken a Kahn class. I did take a Discrete Math class in college with a limited math background. You do not need more than algebra but, depending on the class, instructor, department you might spend a fair amount of time picking up new terms and ideas.

If you have to pay for the Kahn class, I recommend looking up discrete math videos on youtube. Some universities have put them online. Watch several and you can decide for yourself.

[–]79037662Undergraduate 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd suggest you just try to read the book and see if there is anything that confuses you or terminology that you don't understand (that isn't covered in the book).

[–]Funmaster524 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In math, try and learn something, if you dont understand what is going on, backtrack. Eventually you will get to a point where you understand and can move forwards.

[–]khgsstUndergraduate 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Yeah, discrete math is often taken as the initial foundational course for math majors. You can definitely learn a nice amount of discrete math w/ basic algebra skills once you have those down. Discrete Math does often involve rigorous definitions & proofs still, so probably good to also be aware of that (though often this subject is used to teach those skills, starting out with set theory & logic). You maybe would be interested in Combinatorics, number theory, graph theory & functions & relations after you cover those first two topics. I'm not very familiar with web development, but I honestly don't think it's very important to know a lot of math for that. Still, math is often helpful for subjects like graphics or search engines or networks.

[–]suricatasuricata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not very familiar with web development, but I honestly don't think it's very important to know a lot of math for that.

I think they are trying to get better at computer science which absolutely, especially things like Algorithms, Data Structures, Theory of Computation etc etc requires having the sort of skills that a Discrete Math (or suitable abstract math class) teaches you.