What are prerequisites for learning quantitative analysis?

[Charles Dickens]

I'm a 17 year old in high school, and I was wondering if I'm too young to learn quantitative analysis. Some things about me: I took both calculus and statistics in high school, and am very strong with mathematics. I have some experience dabbling with C and C++. Do I know enough to begin learning, and if not, what are other prerequisites for me to have before learning QA?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

There is no harm in reading some prerequisite materials first. It's easier once you have a better feeling on which direction you want to learn more
quantnet.com/guide

 

[Charles Dickens]

thank you for that information!
is my calculus and stats enough for me to start though? i feel like all the quants are like super math whizzes with stochastics and higher math under their belts.

 

[Lyosha]

Man, kids start early these days...

When I was 17 I was busy figuring out the most efficient way to absolve myself of those pesky brain cells!

In my opinion time better spent than doing real analysis. At least at 17. You've got your whole life to learn real analysis. But only one more year until the cops start to actually care when breaking up your backyard kegger. Use the time wisely!

 

[Lamer Chrystle]

I would like to advice you to be familiar with fundamental of Mathematics. (i.e. Real Analysis, like Lyosha mentioned. and Discrete Mathematics) Once you are familiar with Mathematics & logical thinking, you will have high chance to be success in most of fields you want to be in.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

I'm a 17 year old in high school, and I was wondering if I'm too young to learn quantitative analysis. Some things about me: I took both calculus and statistics in high school, and am very strong with mathematics. I have some experience dabbling with C and C++. Do I know enough to begin learning, and if not, what are other prerequisites for me to have before learning QA?

A good project that combines C++ and maths

http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_53_0/libs/math/doc/html/index.html

At the moment C++ is seen as the blue chip standard in the industry. In 10 years time?? who knows. Python, C#, Java,...

Anyway, learn lots of maths as it is the basis for (almost) everything technical.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Man, kids start early these days...

When I was 17 I was busy figuring out the most efficient way to absolve myself of those pesky brain cells!

In my opinion time better spent than doing real analysis. At least at 17. You've got your whole life to learn real analysis. But only one more year until the cops start to actually care when breaking up your backyard kegger. Use the time wisely!

Many developers started when they were 11!

 

[Ian Kaplan]

Hi Charles, You might want to check out the book Investment Science by Luenberger. Its getting dated and it has its virtues and problems. I had this book for a graduate class (although the class had a lot more math then in the book). The book is a decent survey of a number of topics in finance and your level of math should be OK. Also, you should be able to buy a used copy on Amazon, so it will not cost you too much.

Right now, I would say that the most important skill for working in finance is not math, but software engineering. One course might be to get an undergrad degree in computer science (with statistics and machine learning classes). Then do a Masters degree in quantitative finance.

 

[Lyosha]

Many developers started when they were 11!

I hope you're talking about drinking! lol

 

[Daniel Duffy]

I hope you're talking about drinking! lol

even more extreme: 6502

 

[Daniel Duffy]

I hope you're talking about drinking! lol

Quantum mechanics

 

[Polter]

even more extreme: 6502

JMP    $E477