Math for Tech & STEM
The practical math behind tech and STEM work: numbers, algebra, functions, geometry, logic and counting, with short code exercises.
Leads to: Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Software Developer, UI Developer, Cybersecurity Engineer, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Cloud Engineer, Mobile Developer, Web / Full-Stack Developer, Back-End Developer, DevOps / Site Reliability Engineer, QA / Test Engineer, Data Engineer, IT Support Specialist, Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Biochemist, Biological Technician, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Chemist, Physicist, Materials Scientist, Statistician, Actuary, Operations Research Analyst, Electrician, Industrial Machinery Mechanic, Video Game Designer, UI/UX Designer, IT Project Manager, Technical Trainer, Computer Science Teacher
About this course
A beginner course that rebuilds the math you need for any technical career, with no programming experience required. You will work with fractions, percents, exponents and units; solve equations and rearrange formulas; read functions, slopes and exponential growth; compute areas, volumes and triangle sides with Pythagoras and trigonometry; and finish with logic, binary and hexadecimal, and counting. Every lesson has a reading, free videos, a quiz and a fill-in-the-blank Python or JavaScript exercise where the code already runs and you write the one missing formula.
Course content
Module 1
Numbers and Arithmetic
3 lessons · 1h 24mFractions, decimals, percents, exponents, scientific notation and unit conversion: the number sense every technical role relies on.
- 24mFractions, decimals, and percentsReading
Convert confidently between fractions, decimals and percents, and solve everyday percent problems.
- 34mExponents and scientific notationReading
Use exponent rules and scientific notation to work with very large and very small numbers.
- 26mUnits and dimensional analysisReading
Convert simple and compound units by multiplying by conversion factors and cancelling units.
Module 2
Algebra Essentials
3 lessons · 1h 28mVariables, expressions, linear equations and rearranging formulas so you can solve for any unknown.
- 34mVariables and expressionsReading
Read, simplify and evaluate algebraic expressions using the order of operations.
- 31mSolving linear equationsReading
Solve one- and two-step linear equations with inverse operations, and check every answer.
- 23mRearranging formulasReading
Isolate any variable in a physics or finance formula using the same steps as solving equations.
Module 3
Functions and Graphs
3 lessons · 1h 35mFunctions as rules, tables and graphs; slope and intercept; exponential growth and logarithms.
- 32mWhat a function isReading
Read inputs and outputs from a function rule, table and graph, and use function notation.
- 32mLinear relationships and slopeReading
Find the slope and intercept of a line from two points or a data table, and interpret them.
- 31mExponential growth and logarithmsReading
Model repeated percentage growth and decay, and use logarithms to answer how long and how many times.
Module 4
Geometry and Trigonometry
3 lessons · 1h 29mPerimeter, area and volume, the Pythagorean theorem, and sine, cosine and tangent for right triangles.
- 39mArea, volume, and perimeterReading
Compute the perimeter, area and volume of common shapes and solids, with the right units.
- 26mRight triangles and PythagorasReading
Use the Pythagorean theorem to find missing sides, distances and diagonals in right triangles.
- 24mSine, cosine, and tangentReading
Use SOH-CAH-TOA to find unknown sides and angles in right triangles.
Module 5
Logic and Number Systems
3 lessons · 1h 36mBoolean logic and truth tables, binary and hexadecimal, and counting with sets, permutations and combinations.
- 26mLogic and truth tablesReading
Evaluate AND, OR and NOT statements and build truth tables for compound conditions.
- 29mBinary and hexadecimalReading
Convert numbers between decimal, binary and hexadecimal, and see where each appears in computing.
- 41mSets and countingReading
Use sets, the multiplication principle, permutations and combinations to count outcomes.
Where this course leads
Next course on the path
Careers that use it
- Data Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Software Developer
- UI Developer
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Systems Analyst
- Database Administrator
- Cloud Engineer
- Mobile Developer
- Web / Full-Stack Developer
- Back-End Developer
- DevOps / Site Reliability Engineer
- QA / Test Engineer
- Data Engineer
- IT Support Specialist
- Civil Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Biochemist
- Biological Technician
- Medical Laboratory Technologist
- Chemist
- Physicist
- Materials Scientist
- Statistician
- Actuary
- Operations Research Analyst
- Electrician
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic
- Video Game Designer
- UI/UX Designer
- IT Project Manager
- Technical Trainer
- Computer Science Teacher