# Cryptography math requirements [closed]

I know that most of the math related to cryptography is number theory/abstract algebra/probability, but I was wondering if there are some algorithms that make use of other fields of math like real/complex analysis, differential equations or linear algebra? Also, what is highest level of mathematics required for cryptography?

• Also, what is highest level There is no limit, eg. because crypto is continously evolving. – deviantfan Oct 6 '17 at 3:14
• – deviantfan Oct 6 '17 at 3:14
• "I know that most of the math related to cryptography is number theory/abstract algebra" Nope, it's mostly probability. – fkraiem Oct 6 '17 at 3:21
• There are plenty of linear algebra concepts, and it can be quite useful. Vector spaces show up everywhere when dealing with finite fields, and finite fields are all over crypto. – SAI Peregrinus Oct 6 '17 at 3:31
• @SAIPeregrinus Or when dealing with lattices... I wonder if this question might not be primarily opinion based. It really depends on the crypto you want to do. Whatever you do in crypto, you'll always benefit from a good basis in math, and analysis is a very rigorous branch of math, thus a good thing to learn. But I'd say the most "complex" pieces of crypto I've seen so far are all dealing with strange algebraic constructs. – Lery Oct 6 '17 at 9:13