|
Math for Programmers? (pg. 2)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| ziptnf |
ok First
Don't listen to we_R_DNA. |
|
|
| Nrg2Nfinit |
| quote: | Originally posted by ziptnf
ok First
Don't listen to we_R_DNA. |
:stongue: |
|
|
| Comrade Stalin |
Interviewer: What's the highest education level you have attained?
Nou: I'm self-taught.
Interviewer: Is that so?  |
|
|
| Joss Weatherby |
| quote: | Originally posted by ziptnf
Nou, I've taken 8 math courses in college. Most of the programming classes I've been in require at least a little bit of math knowledge. If you try to teach yourself, you aren't going to learn jack ing . You need to go to school. If you blow me off and just say you're going to learn it yourself, and that all college math courses are worthless, then you're absolutely clueless and naive and you're kidding yourself.
Go enroll in Calculus 1, and then take 2, and 3. Then take Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, and Discrete math. You can take Probability and Statistics too. This is an all-or-nothing thing, you are remiss if you just say "oh, hey, I don't need 90% of what they're teaching, so I'll just cut out the middle man and teach myself." You will be completely void of lots of important math knowledge that could potentially help you. There are no classes that teach you nothing but practical programming math, so go and learn it all so that you know how to apply your own knowledge to your craft. I'm speaking from experience, here, trust me. |
I am not saying they are worthless, but that if you already are good at programming and have picked up random higher levels of math already (I didn't write a radio simulation system with out learning at least some math... :p) then taking traditional classes is not the most efficient way to go about it.
http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/200...rogrammers.html
This guy seemed on about what I was talking about.
Stuff I am interested in learning is differential equations, trig, basic physics, right off the bat. Stuff like tensors, rotation matrices, and other stuff along those lines (I already do a lot of vector math, but for most complex things I find myself dropping back down to a polar system then converting back to vectors with the result). |
|
|
| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by Watts
Maybe you want a language like Haskell. |
or prolog |
|
|
| ziptnf |
| quote: | Originally posted by Joss Weatherby
Stuff I am interested in learning is differential equations, trig, basic physics, right off the bat. Stuff like tensors, rotation matrices, and other stuff along those lines (I already do a lot of vector math, but for most complex things I find myself dropping back down to a polar system then converting back to vectors with the result). |
Right, so take Cal 1-3, DE, and Physics classes. This isn't a difficult concept, Nou. Nobody's saying you can't learn it, we're saying you can't teach it to yourself. You are going to be so lost if you sit down and try to teach yourself Differential Equations. Take a course with a professor who knows it. Pay attention, take excellent notes, study hard, and get relatively decent grades. Millions of people go to school and learn from it, not everybody waves the white flag and blames their ignorance on their professors. Even if you get a C, you benefited more from taking the course than you would if you did it by yourself. I just can't see you being able to understand some of the finer details of some of the higher level maths without having someone to help you out. I'm telling you, man, this is the only way to do it. |
|
|
| ziptnf |
Oh and I thought this guy's approach to learning math was hilarious:
| quote: | | I think the best way to start learning math is to spend 15 to 30 minutes a day surfing in Wikipedia. |
What a joke. I'd love to give someone a Calculus exam with no practice other than reading wikipedia and see how they do. |
|
|
| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by ziptnf
Oh and I thought this guy's approach to learning math was hilarious:
What a joke. I'd love to give someone a Calculus exam with no practice other than reading wikipedia and see how they do. |
He said "start." I don't think he's saying someone can learn all the math they'll ever need from Wiki, haha. |
|
|
| Meat187 |
| Why exactly are you posting threads like this, Nou, when you instantly dismiss any qualified opinion or advice you get and do whatever you want anyway? |
|
|
| Joss Weatherby |
| quote: | Originally posted by Meat187
Why exactly are you posting threads like this, Nou, when you instantly dismiss any qualified opinion or advice you get and do whatever you want anyway? |
Because I want to see if someone can convince me.
:p
I don't want to take the time out of my day to go to a math class, spend the money on courses and books, and learn a lot of stuff I might never have to use. I've always found it easier for me to learn things by looking at a problem and going "what do I need to learn to figure it out."
What I am asking to learn here is not ALL the math related to these fields, like I said, its probably over-kill, but I am looking for suggestions on what I can do to prepare myself to tackle these problems when they arise. |
|
|
| ziptnf |
| quote: | Originally posted by Joss Weatherby
I don't want to take the time out of my day to go to a math class, spend the money on courses and books, and learn a lot of stuff I might never have to use. |
Then you won't learn math.
| quote: | | What I am asking to learn here is not ALL the math related to these fields, like I said, its probably over-kill, but I am looking for suggestions on what I can do to prepare myself to tackle these problems when they arise. |
Like I said, it's not that easy. It's impossible to learn ONLY the things you will use, because you can never tell what you will and won't use. I think you should invest some time and money into your education, but I'm saying this so you can take it as a grain of salt, since you're going to treat my opinion as such anyways. |
|
|
|
|
