Computer science what math is more applicable to programming?10pts?

Question

discrete math? or calculus? or is both necessary

i keep hearing discrete math is more applicable

Answer 1

I'd agree that Discrete math is probably the more applicable of the two, however I've found from experience that really Algebra is the one that's used more than anything.

Answer 2

your kinda right in both ways. you mostly need discrete/simple math. while for much much more complicated problems you could possibly need harder math (eg tough algebra, or calc). but even when you get into the more complicated programs you will 99% of the time only need good logic skills and simpler math.

Answer 3

discrete math IMO.

I had a class called 'computational structures' and it was really just a discrete math class.

Although calculus is applicable also. IIRC, algorithm analysis makes use of concepts you pick up in calculus.

Answer 4

Discrete math is the branch of mathematics directly involved with computing problems. In fact, in many universities (including the one where I work) discrete math is taught by the computer science department, rather than the math department.  It often covers such areas as digital logic probablility, graph theory, recurrence relations, and such.

Calculus is a more general type of math, useful in many other disciplines.  While it's true that I don't solve a differential equation every day, the thinking skills learned in calculus make it a valuable skill for computer scientists.  There are many areas of computing where calculus is directly used (especially in simulation and gaming)

You should really have both.