Author Topic: math for programmers - nice big blog entry (Read 7,524 times)

mouser · « **on:** March 18, 2006, 05:23 AM »

http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2006/03/math-for-programmers.html

Quote

Math is a lot easier to pick up after you know how to program. In fact, if you're a halfway decent programmer, you'll find it's almost a snap.

They teach math all wrong in school. Way, WAY wrong. If you teach yourself math the right way, you'll learn faster, remember it longer, and it'll be much more valuable to you as a programmer.

Knowing even a little of the right kinds of math can enable you do write some pretty interesting programs that would otherwise be too hard. In other words, math is something you can pick up a little at a time, whenever you have free time.

Nobody knows all of math, not even the best mathematicians. The field is constantly expanding, as people invent new formalisms to solve their own problems. And with any given math problem, just like in programming, there's more than one way to do it. You can pick the one you like best.

Math is... ummm, please don't tell anyone I said this; I'll never get invited to another party as long as I live. But math, well... I'd better whisper this, so listen up: (it's actually kinda fun.)
...

[link from osnews.com]

taichimaster · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2006, 10:47 AM »

An entertaining read!! The author's got a funny writing style so it's very readable even it's a bit long. I am also like the author where I paid just enough attention on my college math classes to pass the exams. And now I am starting to regret....

Thanks for sharing.

allen · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2006, 02:28 PM »

No formal college education myself, I keep meaning to brush up on math on my own -- this may be the kick in the pants I need(ed). Great link, thanks mouser.