redux

Hi everyone, Im a first year CS major and i really like the class so far, and im picking up C++ really easily. Im also learning python in my spare time (pretty much because its easy ha) But i have a problem, im not the best at math. I try really hard and i go in for tutoring, but i have maybe a C+ in my trig class which i need. The class IS considerably harder than any math class ive ever taken, so it might just be that, but lets face it im no math wiz. Is math really the essential foundation for programming that everyone tells me it is? If im not a math genious will i fail as a programmer?

andro

Math is pretty important when you start getting into theoretical parts of Computer Science, and again in anything you might be working on that is related to math.

Just keep working hard at the math and you'll be ok

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http://www.kevinherron.com/

Infinite Recursion

In my opinion... math is only a requirement because it enables you to form a problem solving mindset. College math is quite hard, especially the four levels of Calculus. You should not let math dictate your programming ability.

There are areas of computer science where it is definitely needed: algorithms, simulations, AI, games, etc. However, you can spend your entire programming career never using more than elementary math.

As long as you have the ability to break a problem down into its pieces and derive a solution from abstract thoughts, etc... I don't see how you can possibly fail as a programmer, unless you give up before you try.

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"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

King

I know a couple fairly successfull programers that aren't that great at math. As IR said, it all depends on what area you are coding in and even then it boils down to how you break down a problem. I wouldn't let poor math skills stop you from programming as a career choice. All that being said, if you know math is a weak spot for you, then you know what you need to work on. After you work on it for long enough eventually it will just "click".

Welcome to the forums Redux.

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redux

thanks for the advice you guys!

PhilBon

I personally don't like math as much as CS so when I run into a problem with math i tend to zone out and try and forget it. It ends up bitting me in the ass but someday I'll learn. My understanding of math and programming is the skill you need from math is the problem solving. The ability to take a problem and solve it or at least have a plan on how to solve it. For example 2 trains that are 450 miles apart leave new york and texas at the same time on the same track, heading for each other. The new yourk train is going 50mph and the texas train only 5. How long will it take for the two trains to crash? So even if you don't know algebra, you can understand that you have to figure out how much time it's going to take the of the trains to get to the other end. Then you have to find out when they will collide. You don't have to worry about equations or all that. Anyone knows that mph is miles per hour, and that means in 1 hour they will travel x miles. So for the most part you can do it with no algebra. When it comes to them colliding you don't need algebra, but it comes in handy. I hope that makes sense. Basically, it's more problem solving and using the resources around you to solve the problems rather than knowing that e=mc^2, or a^2+b^2 = c^2.