Mathematics provides the formal structures and reasoning tools that underpin computer science. Mathematical Foundations for Computing introduces core topics essential for problem-solving, algorithm design, and theoretical computing. You will explore sets and set theory, number systems and bases, functions, and relations—building a toolkit to model data, describe systems, and reason about computational processes. Each module connects abstract mathematics to practical computing contexts, from binary representation and function mapping to relational models.
Mathematical Foundations for Computing
Mathematical Foundations for Computing
This course is part of Essential Mathematics for Computer Science Specialization
Instructor: Omar Karakchi
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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level
Recommended experience
2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Develop a strong understanding of sets, subsets, and set operations, applying them to data representation and computational modelling.
Convert numbers across decimal, binary, and hexadecimal systems, and apply base conversions to programming and computer architecture.
Analyse and interpret functions and their properties, including mappings and inverses, to understand their role in algorithms and computing.
Explore relations and their properties, using them to describe structured connections and dependencies in computational systems.
Skills you'll gain
- Problem Solving
- Data Structures
- Mathematical Modeling
- Computer Science
- Logical Reasoning
- Programming Principles
- Applied Mathematics
- Computational Thinking
- General Mathematics
- Computational Logic
- Advanced Mathematics
- Theoretical Computer Science
- Database Theory
- Business Mathematics
- Algorithms
- Skills section collapsed. Showing 9 of 15 skills.
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Taught in English
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February 2026
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This course is part of the Essential Mathematics for Computer Science Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 4 modules in this course
This week you will be learning about two key concepts: the definition of a set, set notation, and membership tables.
What's included
9 videos6 readings9 assignments
In this module, we will cover three key concepts: an introduction to number bases, the conversion of non-integer numbers, and operations with binary numbers. You will gain an understanding of how number bases work and learn how to perform arithmetic in different bases.
What's included
8 videos4 assignments
This week you will learn about four key concepts: the definition of a function; properties of one-to-one and onto functions; proving correctness if a function is one-to-one or onto; and plotting functions.
What's included
7 videos3 readings8 assignments1 ungraded lab
In this week you will learn about three key concepts: the definition of a relation and how it is different from a function; a relation digraph; and reflexive, symmetric, anti-symmetric and transitive relations.
What's included
7 videos2 readings7 assignments
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