I wrote a whole book around the idea that mathematics is understanding first and symbolic computation second. In Geometry for Programmers, SymPy does the grind for you in every chapter (except chapter 2). Initially, I was even going to omit all the math notation altogether and turn all the formulas into Python snippets. But several reviewers said that this is too much, so now there are formulas you can see and snippets you can run.
Sympy is a sufficiently advanced technology, indistinguishable from magic. If you love python and are interested in math, give it a try and you will be astonished of what it can do.
No one is a complete beginner I suppose. If you did some geometry in school, maybe some basic algebra, if you know what a function is (and I think every programmer knows what a function is) - you're good to go.
Even if the book is called Geometry for Programmers, I was trying really hard to make it self-sufficient. E. g. if you want to get deep into fascinating stuff like NURBS, you need to know a little calculus. So there is a chapter on calculus. It is shallow by itself but it opens the door for power series, polynomial interpolation, and then Bezier, rational Bezier, and finally NURBS.
Just like that, before introducing homogeneous coordinates and projective matrices, I put a chapter on linear equations. In any other geometry book it would have been completely redundant, but it explains so much about 4 point transformations, I just had to put it there.
TL&DR I sure hope so! This was my intention and if the book isn't appropriate for a beginner, I failed miserably as an author.
I see that you don't use LaTeX for your formulas. Was that a choice of yours, or is it just not possible with Manning? I am asking because I would like to publish a book within the next year or so, and am wondering which route to go. It seems self-publishing gives you the most freedom.
I should have used LaTeX from the start, yes. Manning accept manuscripts in LaTeX, moreover, they prefer to work with LaTeX formulas, and even if you write in MS Word, there is a pugin for LaTeX that they encourage you to use...
...and I learned all of that after the manuscript was done. That's on me, I should have been more inquisitive. Also, I should have asked about their style guide and technical requirements for the graphics. The book was supposed to be ready for printing sometime this month but now the launch is delayed till June since they have to redo 300+ graphics from scratch.
Self-publishing definitely gives you more freedom. But Manning also give you a development editor, a technical editor, a copy editor, a technical proofer, a copy proofer, plus a few dozen reviewers, and a whole production team. Writing for a publisher does feel like a deal with the devil, true, but it is not that bad of a deal.
If you want, write me a line (ok@wordsandbuttons.online) and we'll chat about publishing with Manning. Or without. My first book was published on Leanpub, and the second is available from wordsandbuttons.online directly.
I wrote a whole book around the idea that mathematics is understanding first and symbolic computation second. In Geometry for Programmers, SymPy does the grind for you in every chapter (except chapter 2). Initially, I was even going to omit all the math notation altogether and turn all the formulas into Python snippets. But several reviewers said that this is too much, so now there are formulas you can see and snippets you can run.
https://www.manning.com/books/geometry-for-programmers