Programmer and mathematics
As a programmer ( games programmer ) What should I know about mathematics?
If you suggest books, that would be great.
Thanks
If you suggest books, that would be great.
Thanks
Pure mathematics? Not so much. Algorithms, yes. Obviously, they're based on mathematics, but only very specific parts.
Personally, I'd suggest picking up a/some book(s) on Algorithm Design and work top-down: Encounter some math you don't understand? Go down to the lower level. It's generally much easier to start that way, because mathematics is a big, big field and it's hard to know which parts will come in handy and which parts won't. (But I suppose any and all math is handy, if only for the "mathematical insight" it gives you.)
If you really want to get the math itself down, I'd suggest taking a good look at Graph Theory; it's very important in many "common" algorithms for games. For game design specifically, I'd say any kind of advanced geometry is important (Don't shoot me if I misclassified, but I'm thinking of Collision detection, Location analysis, etc.).
Personally, I'd suggest picking up a/some book(s) on Algorithm Design and work top-down: Encounter some math you don't understand? Go down to the lower level. It's generally much easier to start that way, because mathematics is a big, big field and it's hard to know which parts will come in handy and which parts won't. (But I suppose any and all math is handy, if only for the "mathematical insight" it gives you.)
If you really want to get the math itself down, I'd suggest taking a good look at Graph Theory; it's very important in many "common" algorithms for games. For game design specifically, I'd say any kind of advanced geometry is important (Don't shoot me if I misclassified, but I'm thinking of Collision detection, Location analysis, etc.).
I'd suggest:
OpenGL and related math: http://www.songho.ca/
Trigonometry too, maybe: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trigonometry
Vectors: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Vectors
Good luck.
OpenGL and related math: http://www.songho.ca/
Trigonometry too, maybe: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trigonometry
Vectors: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Vectors
Good luck.
Your knowledge of math would be sufficient if you'd be able to understand D. Knuth's "Art of Computer Programming".
Now go reading!
Now go reading!
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