18 ms·

I don't know what it is about discrete math, but I just absolutely hate it. I'm in the second discrete math class required by my university for their CS program

I don't know what it is about discrete math, but I just absolutely hate it. I'm in the second discrete math class required by my university for their CS program and I feel like I'm just barely "getting it". Will give this a read through to see if it explains better than Rosen.

GFK_of_xmaspast 13y ago
Rosen's number theory book was pretty good, maybe it's just you? Shit takes a lot of work.
- JadeNB 13y ago
  > Rosen's number theory book was pretty good, maybe it's just you? 1. This is an awful thing to say. 2. The grandparent is probably referring to Rosen's Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications (http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073383090 http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073383090), not his number-theory book.
  - GFK_of_xmaspast 13y ago
    Students complain about perfectly fine texts all the time.
    - JadeNB 13y ago
      > Students complain about perfectly fine texts all the time. That is true, but JoshGlazebrook didn't say "Rosen's book is terrible", but rather "Will give this a read through to see if it explains better than Rosen". It is certainly a fair thing for him to struggle personally with the explanations in a textbook, no matter how good it is; and turning this constructive comment into occasion for a personal attack / judgement is, I think, unnecessary and unconstructive. By contrast, chris_wot's comment downthread (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7247572 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7247572), asking what is unsatisfactory, seems far more likely to generate productive discourse. (For what it's worth, I am using Rosen this semester, and find it roughly middle of the road; I like it, but can understand that it might not be for everyone.)
usagimaru 13y ago
My experience has been CS professors teach Discrete Math poorly. Had to take a mostly equivalent class (Intro. to Abstract Math) for my Math degree as well, and the professor explained the same concepts clearer and everyone seemed to come out with a good understanding.
peterbotond 13y ago
Try the book, Concrete Mathematics by Graham, Knuth, Patashnik. I love this book, very entertaining and relaxing read. edit: the book in the link looks just as good.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
chris_wot 13y ago
I love Rosen! Assuming you are referring to Introduction to Discrete Mathematics, what is it you find unsatisfactory?

GFK_of_xmaspast 13y ago

Rosen's number theory book was pretty good, maybe it's just you? Shit takes a lot of work.

JadeNB 13y ago
> Rosen's number theory book was pretty good, maybe it's just you? 1. This is an awful thing to say. 2. The grandparent is probably referring to Rosen's Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications (http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073383090 http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073383090), not his number-theory book.
- GFK_of_xmaspast 13y ago
  Students complain about perfectly fine texts all the time.
  - JadeNB 13y ago
    > Students complain about perfectly fine texts all the time. That is true, but JoshGlazebrook didn't say "Rosen's book is terrible", but rather "Will give this a read through to see if it explains better than Rosen". It is certainly a fair thing for him to struggle personally with the explanations in a textbook, no matter how good it is; and turning this constructive comment into occasion for a personal attack / judgement is, I think, unnecessary and unconstructive. By contrast, chris_wot's comment downthread (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7247572 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7247572), asking what is unsatisfactory, seems far more likely to generate productive discourse. (For what it's worth, I am using Rosen this semester, and find it roughly middle of the road; I like it, but can understand that it might not be for everyone.)

usagimaru 13y ago

My experience has been CS professors teach Discrete Math poorly. Had to take a mostly equivalent class (Intro. to Abstract Math) for my Math degree as well, and the professor explained the same concepts clearer and everyone seemed to come out with a good understanding.

peterbotond 13y ago

Try the book, Concrete Mathematics by Graham, Knuth, Patashnik. I love this book, very entertaining and relaxing read. edit: the book in the link looks just as good.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

chris_wot 13y ago

I love Rosen! Assuming you are referring to Introduction to Discrete Mathematics, what is it you find unsatisfactory?