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0 pointsmikevm12y ago0 comments

Having an undergrad CS degree is enough to self-study math, I believe. But having no formal education in the sciences/maths is not (unless you are a genius).

For me, merely pushing myself through a theoretical CS curriculum made me see (and write) hundreds of proofs, hear them explained by professors, and see non-trivial exercises solved during recitations. I don't think you can get the same kind of experience by just reading a textbook, even if it does offer full solutions to problems.

Maybe when there will be full video lectures for both lectures and recitations for the basic math (or theoretical CS) curriculum you could self-study by watching those and solving problem sets. Right now, the math courses offered by Coursera don't seem to match college level, and their platform doesn't really work for proof-based courses like Analysis, Linear Algebra (not the applied kind), etc...

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stiff12y ago

I learnt only a bit of discrete math in my CS undergraduate degree, I had calculus and linear algebra but barely passed it by memorizing how to solve concrete problems and by having merciful professors - I was already working full time and had 4 or 5 courses going on, I just didn't manage to find enough time to study properly. If you have bigger gaps in your math knowledge and can't go to an university you just have to start at a lower level, there is a wide selection of "intro to higher mathematics" books meant for people like that, and if that level is still too high you might need to review high school math, e.g. Serge Lang has a good "Basic Mathematics" review book, or you can use Khan Academy videos etc. I myself had to review a lot of high school math when I was starting.

MIT OCW has excellent courses for discrete math, calculus and linear algebra and in some cases videos from the recitations are included.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-01sc-single-variab...

I also stressed a few times already I don't think it is "the same kind of experience". But as long as you make an effort you will make progress and not everyone can manage to fit a university degree in their schedule.