Foundation mathematics for computer science: a visual approach
Choice Reviews Online · 2016
Computer science is a very large subject, and graduates will pursue a wide variety of careers, including programming, systems design, cryptography, website design, real-time systems, computer animation, computer games, data visualisation, etc.Consequently, it is virtually impossible to write a mathematics book that caters for all of these potential career paths.Nevertheless, I have attempted to describe a range of mathematical topics that I believe are relevant, and have helped me during my own career in computer science.The book's subtitle "A Visual Approach" reflects the importance I place on coloured illustrations and function graphs, of which there are over 160.Each chapter contains a variety of worked examples.This second edition remains an introductory text, and is aimed at students studying for an undergraduate degree in computer science.There are four extra chapters on combinatorics, probability, modular arithmetic and complex numbers, which together with the original twelve chapters should provide readers with a solid foundation, upon which more advanced topics of mathematics can be studied.Throughout the book I have referenced the key people behind the various mathematical discoveries covered, which I hope adds a human dimension to the subject.I have found it very interesting and entertaining to discover how some mathematicians ridiculed their fellow peers, when they could not comprehend the significance of a new invention-Cantor's Set Theory, being an excellent example.There is no way I could have written this book without the assistance of the Internet and my books previously published by Springer Verlag.In particular, I would like to acknowledge Wikipedia and Richard Elwes' excellent book Maths 1001.I prepared this book on an Apple iMac, using L A T E X 2 e , Pages and the Grapher package, and would recommend this combination to anyone considering writing a book on mathematics.I do hope you enjoy reading this book, and that you are tempted to study mathematics to a deeper level.