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I am tackling some topics in Probability Theory and Machine Learning and while I have plenty of resources dedicated to those disciplines I am lacking in a good basic math foundation.

Does anyone know any good, concise math books that can help introduce the foundations (calculus, linear algebra, statistics) of these disciplines to someone whose exposure to math is very limited?

Of particular interest would be a book that could relate these concepts to someone familiar with programming to leverage that mode of thinking to relate the essential ideas.

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    $\begingroup$ Have you tried the "Shaum's Outline" series published by McGraw-Hill? They are concise and I think you are the target audience. I have had good experiences with them in the past. $\endgroup$
    – MJD
    Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 2:17
  • $\begingroup$ Wait you want to learn probability and machine learning without yet knowing calculus, linear algebra and statistics? Or you've learned those but need some revision? Or what? $\endgroup$
    – BCLC
    Commented May 28, 2018 at 4:42
  • $\begingroup$ Does this answer your question? What is the best book to learn probability? $\endgroup$
    – user1147844
    Commented Oct 7, 2023 at 9:22

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For Calculus: I would use the standard textbook for U.S colleges: Calculus: Early Transcendental

For Linear Algebra: I highly encouraged you to check out Professor Gilbert Strang's Introduction to Linear Algebra supplement with MIT Opencourseware's free Linear Algebra course

There is even a series of video lectures of Professor Gilbert Strang's course on youtube

This is how I taught myself Linear Algebra

For Probability and Statistics: I used Probability & Statistics for Engineers & Scientists for my introduction class during sophomore year. If you REALLY want to understand probability theory, I cannot recommend Probability Theory: The Logic of Science enough. It is hand down one of the best books I've ever read. You will be a master at Probability Theory after reading it.

By the way all these textbooks are available online as pdf versions at a website called Library Genesis

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  • $\begingroup$ Lots of worked Python examples and mathematical explanations in "Python for Probability Statistics and Machine Learning" by Unpingco $\endgroup$
    – reckoner
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 15:03
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You may want to try someone online videos that may be helpful. Here is link for free linear algebra book with solutions http://joshua.smcvt.edu/linearalgebra/

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