What kind of Maths should a student Computer Science be familiar with?

Question

I am considering go back to College to get a Master Degree on Computer Science in 2011.

As I have been a programmer who had been building all kinds of software, I don't think any thing related to programming shall be a big problem for me. But I did forgotten almost all knowledge I've learned as a undergraduate student.

So I think maybe I can study some math before I go back as I've got some leisure time recently. But I not sure what area of math should I have a look, and where should I start.

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Answer 1

It depends on what you want to do. Here are some fields that might be of use:

• 2D/3D graphics: linear algebra.
• Functional programming: lambda calculus, category theory.
• Simulations, approximations: calculus, differential equations, numerical mathematics, computational fluid dynamics.
• Pathfinding, routing: graph theory.
• Logic programming: propositional logic.

Answer 2

Descrete Math is a good start and offered at probably all universities, but if you are going for your Masters you probably already took this unless you majored in something else. (UB)

• Logic
• Set theory
• Information theory
• Number theory
• Combinatorics
• Theoretical computer science
• Operations research
• Discretization
• Discrete analogues of continuous mathematics

Theory of Computation is probably another course you can look into. (UB)
Linear algebra is great matrix mathematics and vector manipulation (UB)

• Linear equations
• Linear transformations
• Matrices
• Determinants
• Vector spaces
• Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
• Inner products
• Orthogonality
• Quadratic forms.

Answer 3

Depends on where you're doing your masters degree, whether it's research based or taught, which modules they offer and what your research project/thesis would be.