the toad

Anyone got recommendations for maths textbooks I can work through that might help with game dev, but also as a good starting point for general pure maths self-study?

I want to develop a better intuition for how maths works, and I think I respond better to formal textbooks than lectures or YouTube tutorials.

#math #gamedev

Feb 3, 2025 at 1:28pmWeb
Show threadExilianFeb 3, 2025

@toadkarter Something like this? https://gamemath.com/

A couple of people on our forum had a nose through it a while back: https://exilian.co.uk/forum/index.php?msg=152724

3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development

Show threadthe toadFeb 3, 2025
@Exilian @on_code Thanks both for the recommendations, these looks great!
Show threadEli 💚 chaos 🌋🎲👾Feb 3, 2025
@toadkarter This depends on your current background. For example, starting from elementary algebra moving up to functions and then “actual” pure maths is very underrated if you haven’t done math in a decade. Or, if you have just studied school or uni level calculus then the recommendations would be very different as to where to go next. In most game dev, only a small subset of linear algebra is used and basic mechanics.
Show threadthe toadFeb 3, 2025
@eli So I haven't done maths formally since school, so most of my maths these days comes from learning random bits that I need to make games - for example, I have some understanding of how vectors generally work, but only in the way that this affects whatever feature I am trying to develop. Same for trigonometry, etc. I guess I don't like the fact that even though it works, I am using concepts in my code without fully understanding them, and I would like to change that!
Show threadMrs BeanbagFeb 3, 2025
@toadkarter well i just found one of my university textbooks is available online, the first two chapters cover exactly the sort of maths that are generally useful in game dev https://archive.org/details/advanced-engineering-mathematics-10th-edition/page/n21/mode/2up
Advanced Engineering Mathematics 10th Edition : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Advanced Engineering Mathematics 10th Edition

Internet Archive
Show threadtiny_mFeb 3, 2025
@toadkarter I was using khan academy a while ago trying to relearn similar things, I think its useful because you can choose what level you want to start at.
Show threadGoteer TxuriaFeb 3, 2025
@toadkarter While I don't have textbook recommendations, I suggest you start by getting a solid foundation on math functions (not just sine/cosine, building and analysing them in general).

It'll make you see The Matrix when it clicks, honestly.
Show threadGoteer TxuriaFeb 3, 2025
@toadkarter My understanding of math comes from attending university.
Researching how to solve the thing in front of me, rather than linearly learning stuff from books.

Maybe look for a workbook instead and use that to choose your current subject?