Self-Learning Help: Discovering Algorithms without a Math Background

AI Thread Summary
A new forum member seeks guidance on learning algorithms, expressing familiarity with various programming languages but lacking a mathematical background. They request book recommendations for the mathematics necessary to understand algorithms. Forum responses emphasize that the original post should have been placed in a different subforum, specifically the General Math section, and suggest that a course in discrete mathematics is typically a prerequisite for studying algorithms. Recommendations include searching for resources on discrete mathematics and considering well-regarded books on algorithms and data structures, such as Donald Knuth's classic work, which covers essential concepts like big-O notation for algorithm complexity.
WhatHitMe
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Hello, I still haven't introduced my self, I'm new here. Since I don't like typing about things on the wrong place I will jump directly into my problem.
I have learned to program at home, I'm familiar with the syntax of C/C++/C#/Java/Python/PHP/HTML & CSS/JavaScript/bash/batch and a little bit of Ada, and I used to learn a little bit of design patterns however for some reason I decided that I will skip algortihms now I want to learn them, but I don't have any mathematical background I mean I'm still in high-school, I want to ask if somebody can recommend me a book about mathematics that I will need to learn algorithms.
 
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WhatHitMe said:
Hello, I still haven't introduced my self, I'm new here. Since I don't like typing about things on the wrong place I will jump directly into my problem.
I have learned to program at home, I'm familiar with the syntax of C/C++/C#/Java/Python/PHP/HTML & CSS/JavaScript/bash/batch and a little bit of Ada, and I used to learn a little bit of design patterns however for some reason I decided that I will skip algortihms now I want to learn them, but I don't have any mathematical background I mean I'm still in high-school, I want to ask if somebody can recommend me a book about mathematics that I will need to learn algorithms.

Welcome to the forum.

This is the introduction subforum and it is against the rules to post problems/questions here. This is just for intoductions.

Start this thread in the General Math subforum.

Oh, and it would be a good idea to read the rules. I think we ALL tend to skip that when entering a new forum but here it actually matters.
 
phinds said:
This is the introduction subforum and it is against the rules to post problems/questions here. This is just for intoductions.

Was this originally in the introductions forum? I don't see any sign that this thread has been moved.

Anyway, the usual math prerequisite for a university course in algorithms is a course in "discrete mathematics." Try our Science and Math Textbooks forum:

https://www.physicsforums.com/forums/science-and-math-textbooks.21/

See if a forum search for "discrete" turns up anything useful, then ask there if necessary.
 
jtbell said:
Was this originally in the introductions forum? I don't see any sign that this thread has been moved.
Might have been my mistake based on content since it started off as an intro. If so, my bad.
 
WhatHitMe said:
Hello, I still haven't introduced my self, I'm new here. Since I don't like typing about things on the wrong place I will jump directly into my problem.
I have learned to program at home, I'm familiar with the syntax of C/C++/C#/Java/Python/PHP/HTML & CSS/JavaScript/bash/batch and a little bit of Ada, and I used to learn a little bit of design patterns however for some reason I decided that I will skip algortihms now I want to learn them, but I don't have any mathematical background I mean I'm still in high-school, I want to ask if somebody can recommend me a book about mathematics that I will need to learn algorithms.

Buy a good book on algorithms and data structures. Most of them will cover big-o notation that is used to describe the complexity of algorithms.
 
I don't know how well regarded it is today, but many years ago Donald Knuth's book on algorithms was the gold standard.
 
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