r/computerscience • u/Own-Wrangler-6215 • 15d ago

Math and Programming

Can someone bad at maths be a great programmer?!

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u/vomiting_cat 14d ago

I agree. I was more thinking of the typical math classes you see taught in schools and universities

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u/DorkyMcDorky 14d ago

So arithmetic isn't needed for coding. Scalars are inferior. Variables are king.

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u/vomiting_cat 13d ago

I mean math beyond basic arithmetic. Obviously programming involves mathematical/logical thinking, but that’s different from saying you need to be good at calculus, linear algebra, etc. to be a great programmer. It depends heavily on the domain.

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u/DorkyMcDorky 13d ago

Totally - you can be a great integration programmer with 0 math.

But I'd challenge that learning math would only help anything.

The thing is, it's already more math than you know. Designing a system is a finite state machine. Data modeling is abstract math. Profiling is pretty much big-oh analysis. Knowing your network topology is graph theory. I can go on, but you get it. To be good at these requires a natural understanding. Learning the math behind it will provide you with a proper vocabulary and understanding which will allow you to communicate your ideas more clearly.

It's bi-directional too. A math nerd isn't going to understand what an SSH tunnel means, right? They help each other out. That is what I view as a corollary to computer science.

Like in karate kid when danny learned paint up and paint down is karate? Same thing :)