Struggling ALOT in CS discrete math course

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

Does anyone have any advice or textbook/supplements/anything that may be helpful?

I’m a freshman in college here. I studied a lot for this course, and study as in over time and not “cram before exam” study. I probably put in most time into this class ever, and I got the lowest grade on my first midterm ever: 37% when the class average is 65%.

I have a really weak foundation in mathematics, and I’ve never done much math practice outside of high school class… and my high school didn’t exactly have decent math teachers. The highest level of math I’ve completed is Calc ab.

So any advice on how I can study? or what to study? Currently my class uses a textbook by MIT… and it’s difficult and doesn’t have many examples. Any textbook recommendations? In general, I feel like I’m trying to form sentences without yet knowing words, or learn a language without knowing grammar rules. I guess I can’t use brute force to pass this class.

Please, any advice on discrete mathematics is helpful.

Thank you!

2

I’m not sure which textbook you’re using, but check out Rosen’s textbook. It’s considered one of the top textbooks for discrete math.

My CS course used the Epp’s Discrete Math Brief Edition and I recommend it also. The questions are easier than Rosen’s and she fairly good at explaining the math to those who have little background.

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Look online for Schaum’s Finite Math…I found it easier to understand, and it has lots of solved problems.