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I have been a software programmer for over six years and I'm from a non-mathematical background. Though I had some limited exposure to discrete mathematics in my college years it didn't leave any significant impact on me; but now I have been finding many topics on discrete mathematics to be very interesting, especially combinatorics and I'm interested in learning more of it.

However few people I had approached told me that I need to first master calculus in order to take on discrete math, as they say that's how it is taught in universities, is this true? do I need know calculus to appreciate discrete math? (Also, can anyone point me to any books on combinatorics for beginners)

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    $\begingroup$ In short, no. You do not need calculus to approach discrete math. $\endgroup$
    – davidlowryduda ♦
    Aug 12, 2013 at 20:52
  • $\begingroup$ Any book entitled "mathematics for computer science" is good. $\endgroup$
    – user5402
    Aug 12, 2013 at 20:53
  • $\begingroup$ Agree with @mixedmath. I'm originally a compsci, but more recently I've learnt maths / calculus. I loved discrete mathematics when I did my compsci degree, and I can safely say that having done calculus now at degree level, it's not relevant to discrete mathematics. $\endgroup$
    – TooTone
    Aug 12, 2013 at 20:54
  • $\begingroup$ If you can read German, I can recommend "Diskrete Mathematik für Einsteiger" from Beutelspacher (ISBN 978-3-8348-1248-3). No university-level math is required to understand this book. $\endgroup$
    – Martin Thoma
    Aug 13, 2013 at 10:44

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What is termed discrete mathematics is largely independent of calculus. In fact, to appreciate calculus properly, one might need some logic and set theory which is often part of a course in discrete mathematics together with other topics like combinatorics, graph theory and elementary number theory. For a good elementary text in combinatorics, I recommend Principles and Techniques of Combinatorics by Chen Chuan Chong and Koh Khee Meng.

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