Back to Algebra and Differential Calculus for Data Science
University of Colorado Boulder

Algebra and Differential Calculus for Data Science

Are you interested in Data Science but lack the math background for it? Has math always been a tough subject that you tend to avoid? This course will teach you the most fundamental Calculus concepts that you will need for a career in Data Science without a ton of unnecessary proofs and techniques that you may never use. Consider this an expressway to Data Science with approachable methods and friendly concepts that will guide you to truly understanding the most important ideas in Differential Calculus. We will review some algebra basics, talk about what a derivative is, compute some simple derivatives and apply the basics of derivatives to graphing and maximizing functions. This course is designed to prepare learners to successfully complete Statistical Modeling for Data Science Application, which is part of CU Boulder's Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS) program. Logo courtesy of ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash.com

Status: Algebra
Status: Applied Mathematics
IntermediateCourse8 hours

Featured reviews

JR

5.0Reviewed Aug 11, 2023

Good course. Teacher had problems with keeping equations and graphs in viewing area.

SV

5.0Reviewed Apr 24, 2023

overall good course was a good refresher for my exams and the way the material is taught makes it very easy to understand.

LG

4.0Reviewed Oct 30, 2025

very good course, needs a little more explanation of how to calculate some of the things (e.g. derivatives of log functions), but the AI Coach can help

BP

5.0Reviewed Jun 23, 2022

R​eally enjoyed the content and the whole structure of the course. It's been a few decades since I did calc and this was excellent!

MM

5.0Reviewed Oct 2, 2023

only problem I had was with logs. Used khan academy and started from scratch. Also graphing was an issue I had to resolve.

AV

5.0Reviewed Feb 9, 2025

Quick and to the point; this was a fantastic way to freshen up on my old math skills from long ago. Only small complaint was the occasional off-screen white-boarding, but was manageable.

DG

5.0Reviewed May 19, 2022

Excellent introduction and review for those of us who took these courses some years ago! Really appreciated the clear teaching, which is so important for learrning math.

LS

4.0Reviewed Apr 1, 2023

The material was presented and explained well. I wish there was more engagement in the forums or associated study material recommended.

AL

5.0Reviewed Nov 19, 2022

This course is a little brief; however, it could serve as an excellent refresher to someone who hasn't taken Calculus 1 for a while.

VK

5.0Reviewed Sep 28, 2024

Really loved this course, hadn't done this kind of math for 14 years, it was the perfect way to brush up and also understand some concepts that were new to me.

SO

5.0Reviewed Mar 18, 2023

I like the fact how this course is segmented from the beginning to the end and specially how to plot 2 dimensional graph from a polynomial function.

JW

5.0Reviewed May 27, 2022

T​he lectures are very clear and thorough. I really appreciate the effort and thoughtfulness put into this course.

All reviews

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