Question

Hey are these notes Calculus based? I see some symbols that I have seen in calculus books but I'm not sure because I haven't taken calc, I'm in Pre-Calc. Also if they are calc based do I need to know calc to understand or would a simpler explanation from someone be enough? http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-00-introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-fall-2008/readings/l11_sums2.pdf

Answer 1

You will probably get more out of the course if you understand integrals and limits, but I don't think it's required and probably won't make much difference except in the complexity analysis stuff and the bit about harmonic numbers in that pdf.

Answer 2

Ok I'll be taking Calc next year should I just skip over these notes in this course or what. Then next year when I take calc I will probably be learning another language and I can use my knowledge of integrals and stuff to master that language?

Answer 3

Well algorithm complexity is something that's important to programming in any language and the notation used to describe it doesn't change from one language to another.

Answer 4

So I would say try as best you can to figure out what is being said and do the exercises. If you don't get something just move on and maybe it will make more sense later (or you can ask for help here)

Answer 5

ok thanx