Trigonometry is an important foundation, but it doesn’t rule as much of the field as linear algebra or calculus do.
Maths wise a path I always found to work well for people, reading wise is:
Trigonometry for dummies -> mathematics for computer graphics by John Vince (used to be essential mathematics for computer graphics - fast in the previous edition) -> precalc for dummies.
Of the three I would actually start with Vince’s book, and only fall back to a trig or geometry for dummies publication if you find yourself unable to follow.
Since ICE is now available to all, I think you’ll find linear algebra from that book very easy to experiment with, which makes the experience largely more rewarding, and more quickly so, than it was before.
Don’t be fooled by the name of the for dummies serie, they often have authors that are more unassuming and less stuck up than renowned publishers who feature writers that are entirely too academic and stuck too far up their arse. I’ve had very good results when tutoring people in using those, don’t underestimate the value of a layout and structure that make you feel like you’re ahead of your book. The opposite, often common in more scholarly publications, if often reason #1 for early quitters, nobody likes to feel like an idiot, even if sometimes it’s the writer and not the reader at fault.
As for the terminology, it’s something that comes with either formal training, or if you start later in life once you practiced enough and puzzle enough piece together.
It’s a lot easier to understand words like function or polynomial when you’ve already seem them working a few times and you know how to associate, than it is to read their formal definition.
