5 ms·

Mathematics and Computation [pdf]

241 points by MAXPOOL 8y ago

deleted 8y ago
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newprint 8y ago
Wow, thank you very much !
bitforger 8y ago
Just from reading the introduction, this book seems extremely well written, far-reaching, and just plain cool. On days like this, I'm always tempted to drop all my current courses and just spend the time reading a book.
- MAXPOOL 8y ago
  I found this incredible book draft because Scott Aaronsons glowing praise of Avi Wigderson made me curious https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=4156 https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=4156 >Congrats to Avi Wigderson for winning the Knuth Prize. When I was asked to write a supporting nomination letter, my first suggestion was to submit a blank sheet of paper—since for anyone in theoretical computer science, there’s nothing that needs to be said about why Avi should win any awards we have. I hope Avi remains a guiding light of our community for many years to com Avi Wigderson homepage is full of interesting stuff. https://www.math.ias.edu/avi/ https://www.math.ias.edu/avi/
- placebo 8y ago
  My exact sentiments. This isn't adding anything of value as an HN comment but I just wanted to share my appreciation of this book as well as my frustration that there are only 24 hours in a day...
Abishek_Muthian 8y ago
Just sharing another good book on the topic. Mathematics for Computation from MIT[1]. HN discussion on it[2]. [1]:https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring17/mcs.pdf https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring17/mcs.pdf [2]:https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13800320 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13800320
- mlevental 8y ago
  this isn't at all the same book. the OP is about complexity theory. the book you've linked to is basically math for a cs curriculum.
  - Abishek_Muthian 8y ago
    I agree, I intended to share courseware on the topic. Perhaps should have worded as such.
- gvand 8y ago
  Newer version of [1]: https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring18/mcs.pdf https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring18/mcs.pdf
KKKKkkkk1 8y ago
That's a very misleading title for a book about computational complexity theory.
- ABeeSea 8y ago
  I disagree, but I guess it depends on your definition of mathematics. Complexity theory and formal languages are far closer to my definition of mathematics than discrete math problems which I tend to classify more as arithmetic.
  - jcranberry 8y ago
    What do you mean by discrete math problems? A massive amount of mathematics is discrete, and those parts of mathematics are extremely deep as well.
vertak 8y ago
This along with Scott Aaronson's (https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/ https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/) make for good reading on the theory of computation.
- tonton12 8y ago
  By the way, the author of the book, Avi has made a profound impact in Scott, as Scott describes in the following post: https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=2925 https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=2925
HERPUUUU 8y ago
Awesome! :) I love this field of CS/Math. How much time/energy/space does it take to think a thought? Is it possible to think this class of thoughts? What difference does it make if we change the computational substrate from classic to quantum? I wish I had two lifetimes, so that I could spend one on dwelling on things like this. (Maybe I do, if we made enormous advancements in cybernetic prostethics et.c. before I die.. lets hope!)
deleted 8y ago
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241 points by MAXPOOL 8y ago

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

newprint 8y ago

Wow, thank you very much !

bitforger 8y ago

Just from reading the introduction, this book seems extremely well written, far-reaching, and just plain cool. On days like this, I'm always tempted to drop all my current courses and just spend the time reading a book.

MAXPOOL 8y ago
I found this incredible book draft because Scott Aaronsons glowing praise of Avi Wigderson made me curious https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=4156 https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=4156 >Congrats to Avi Wigderson for winning the Knuth Prize. When I was asked to write a supporting nomination letter, my first suggestion was to submit a blank sheet of paper—since for anyone in theoretical computer science, there’s nothing that needs to be said about why Avi should win any awards we have. I hope Avi remains a guiding light of our community for many years to com Avi Wigderson homepage is full of interesting stuff. https://www.math.ias.edu/avi/ https://www.math.ias.edu/avi/
placebo 8y ago
My exact sentiments. This isn't adding anything of value as an HN comment but I just wanted to share my appreciation of this book as well as my frustration that there are only 24 hours in a day...

Abishek_Muthian 8y ago

Just sharing another good book on the topic. Mathematics for Computation from MIT[1]. HN discussion on it[2]. [1]:https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring17/mcs.pdf https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring17/mcs.pdf [2]:https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13800320 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13800320

mlevental 8y ago
this isn't at all the same book. the OP is about complexity theory. the book you've linked to is basically math for a cs curriculum.
- Abishek_Muthian 8y ago
  I agree, I intended to share courseware on the topic. Perhaps should have worded as such.
gvand 8y ago
Newer version of [1]: https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring18/mcs.pdf https://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.042/spring18/mcs.pdf

KKKKkkkk1 8y ago

That's a very misleading title for a book about computational complexity theory.

ABeeSea 8y ago
I disagree, but I guess it depends on your definition of mathematics. Complexity theory and formal languages are far closer to my definition of mathematics than discrete math problems which I tend to classify more as arithmetic.
- jcranberry 8y ago
  What do you mean by discrete math problems? A massive amount of mathematics is discrete, and those parts of mathematics are extremely deep as well.

vertak 8y ago

This along with Scott Aaronson's (https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/ https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/) make for good reading on the theory of computation.

tonton12 8y ago
By the way, the author of the book, Avi has made a profound impact in Scott, as Scott describes in the following post: https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=2925 https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=2925

HERPUUUU 8y ago

Awesome! :) I love this field of CS/Math. How much time/energy/space does it take to think a thought? Is it possible to think this class of thoughts? What difference does it make if we change the computational substrate from classic to quantum? I wish I had two lifetimes, so that I could spend one on dwelling on things like this. (Maybe I do, if we made enormous advancements in cybernetic prostethics et.c. before I die.. lets hope!)

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