Back to school ...
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So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
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So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
Xaverian wrote:
ForumThe Lounge Subject:Re: Back to school ... Sender:Xaverian Date:10:12 17 Nov '06 Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Xaverian wrote:
ForumThe Lounge Subject:Re: Back to school ... Sender:Xaverian Date:10:12 17 Nov '06 Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
Xaverian wrote:
am I really going to use in the real world?
It depends. Most of what I do involves the basic four functions of arithmetic. However, I've worked on projects where the program has had to calculate thermal loss, signal gain, etc., and that was a lot more complicated. So much in fact that we hired a mathematician for that. On the other hand, I've seen math PhD's make mountains out of molehills. It was amusing to take a multispectral analysis algorithm created by the PhD's that took minutes to analyze the data and convert it into a lookup table that showed the customer exactly what they wanted to see in realtime. So, it depends. :) What I'd suggest is that you find a school/dept/prof that will let you test out of those classes, until you can't figure out the material without taking the classes. It's such a waste of time taking classes for stuff you know, but then again, they want their money. Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith -
So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
I changed to Computer Science after several majors (nursing, biology/pre-med, biochem/pre-med, journalism....)and i think all accredited schools (in the US) for Computer Science make you take way too much math. We only had to take Calc I and Calc II though. Calc III was optional, and we didn't have a Calc IV. If you really have to take all of them, my condolences. However discrete math, and set and logic theory rocked!
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Xaverian wrote:
ForumThe Lounge Subject:Re: Back to school ... Sender:Xaverian Date:10:12 17 Nov '06 Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Jeffry J. Brickley wrote:
My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend
Hmmm. That sounds like more than kissing cousins! :-D Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith -
Jeffry J. Brickley wrote:
My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend
Hmmm. That sounds like more than kissing cousins! :-D Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh SmithMarc Clifton wrote:
That sounds like more than kissing cousins!
Does kissing cousin mean a cousin far enough removed from you genetically that it's okay to kiss her (but you still can't sleep with her or marry her)? Or is that phrase a Marc-ism?
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
Marc Clifton wrote:
That sounds like more than kissing cousins!
Does kissing cousin mean a cousin far enough removed from you genetically that it's okay to kiss her (but you still can't sleep with her or marry her)? Or is that phrase a Marc-ism?
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*)Nishant Sivakumar wrote:
Does kissing cousin mean a cousin far enough removed from you genetically that it's okay to kiss her
Actually, more than kiss, I believe. :)
Nishant Sivakumar wrote:
Or is that phrase a Marc-ism?
No. From Dictionary.com[^] Two or more things that are closely akin or very similar. For example, They may be made by different manufacturers, but these two cars are kissing cousins. This metaphoric term alludes to a distant relative who is well known enough to be greeted with a kiss. Ah, well, I guess just a kiss away. Marc
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith -
So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
If you get into a Science related field, doing software development (e.g., working for NASA, JPL, Etc...) and/or Video Game development, Search Engine company (e.g., Yahoo!, Google) then you'll find you'll use Algebra, Trigonometry, Calc, etc... heavily. As others have already said, it all depends on the project you're working on ...
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So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
It's not the "how do I solve really hard equations" bit of mathematics that's so important, it's the "how do I solve really difficult problems using in a logical, precise and rigourous method" that's important. Mathematics doesn't teach you facts, it teaches you how to find facts.
cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
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It's not the "how do I solve really hard equations" bit of mathematics that's so important, it's the "how do I solve really difficult problems using in a logical, precise and rigourous method" that's important. Mathematics doesn't teach you facts, it teaches you how to find facts.
cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
It's not the "how do I solve really hard equations" bit of mathematics that's so important, it's the "how do I solve really difficult problems using in a logical, precise and rigourous method" that's important. Mathematics doesn't teach you facts, it teaches you how to find facts.
Chris, your love affair with Mathematics is too well known for anyone to take your Math opinions as unbiased comments :-)
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
Chris Maunder wrote:
It's not the "how do I solve really hard equations" bit of mathematics that's so important, it's the "how do I solve really difficult problems using in a logical, precise and rigourous method" that's important. Mathematics doesn't teach you facts, it teaches you how to find facts.
Chris, your love affair with Mathematics is too well known for anyone to take your Math opinions as unbiased comments :-)
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
It's not the "how do I solve really hard equations" bit of mathematics that's so important, it's the "how do I solve really difficult problems using in a logical, precise and rigourous method" that's important. Mathematics doesn't teach you facts, it teaches you how to find facts.
cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
Hear hear. As anybody who's done things like Applied and Advanced maths will testify. Solving the equation is easy;), as long as you can determine what the constituent parts are - anybody remember "gravity acting at a point on a slope"?
Arthur Dent - "That would explain it. All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something big and sinister going on in the world." Slartibartfast - "No. That's perfectly normal paranoia. Everybody in the universe gets that." Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
Xaverian wrote:
Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice?
Maybe. As Chris said, it's more about teaching you new ways of thinking than anything. I remember hardly anything specific about most of the maths i studied ten years or so ago, but the discipline required to analyze a problem, find a solution, prove that solution... that stuff sticks with you. And trust me, it shows in your work. Of course, there's nothing stopping you from learning by rule and by rote, in which case it'll do you very little good and waste a lot of time. You get out what you put in... ;)
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Xaverian wrote:
ForumThe Lounge Subject:Re: Back to school ... Sender:Xaverian Date:10:12 17 Nov '06 Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Jeffry J. Brickley wrote:
Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
:laugh::laugh::laugh:
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Xaverian wrote:
ForumThe Lounge Subject:Re: Back to school ... Sender:Xaverian Date:10:12 17 Nov '06 Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Jeffry J. Brickley wrote:
Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
I heard that, when he dies, he's giving his eyes to Stevie Wonder.
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It's not the "how do I solve really hard equations" bit of mathematics that's so important, it's the "how do I solve really difficult problems using in a logical, precise and rigourous method" that's important. Mathematics doesn't teach you facts, it teaches you how to find facts.
cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
Mathematics doesn't teach you facts, it teaches you how to find facts
Well put :-D
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So as I sit looking through various different college catalogs, viewing the requirements for different Computer Science degrees, I can't help but stop and wonder ... How much of this Calc I, II, III, and IV am I really going to use in the real world? Wouldn't basic Algebra suffice? I just finished my Associates degree (emphasis: programmer/analyst), and now I am continuing on to receive my Bachelors (emphasis: Internet Web Application Development), and God willing then my Masters (emphasis: software engineering) Comments, thoughts, help, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Ferris Bueller?
What we need is a patch for human stupidity
Solving calculus equations is not too much different than solving programming problems. It's an excellent exercise of the mind. Calc IV at our school was a lot of vector math, which is really useful for 3D programming. I also had differential equations and discrete math. Discrete math is having more to do with logic and I think applies well to programming. Diff eq was just plain fun. Cryptography, probability, and graphics will all use your math skills. It's definitely useful.
Logifusion[^]
"This isn't a business. I've always thought of it as a source of cheap labor. Like a family." -
I changed to Computer Science after several majors (nursing, biology/pre-med, biochem/pre-med, journalism....)and i think all accredited schools (in the US) for Computer Science make you take way too much math. We only had to take Calc I and Calc II though. Calc III was optional, and we didn't have a Calc IV. If you really have to take all of them, my condolences. However discrete math, and set and logic theory rocked!
For CS I had to take through calc III, and either stats or linear equations. Calc IV was the unofficial name for ordinary differential equations. It was numbered in a way that would correspond to calc IV, but since only calc II was required they couldn't call it that. I needed calc IV for a planned double major, and since taking it precluded the lower level linear equations class (other option was 'prep for grad school' level) I took stats. One of the two biggest mistakes I made in scheduling, and one of the three classes I worried about failing. In all three cases the prof used an agressive curve to mask his failure to teach and I passed.
-- Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.