Face my enemy...
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Hmm, given that Mathematics is one of those subjects I like the most, does that imply you, Sir Sander of Rossels, are my enemy? :laugh:
You have just been Sharapova'd.
I'm guessing Blofeld was pretty good at math too ;)
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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s - stick that on the end of everywhere you've put math and you'll be fine.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
I'm not going into an arguement with you. Simply grab an encyclopaedia to see I did nothing wrong. In fact, I'm pretty skillful in both British and American. In my defence, we're much more America oriented here and my browser even marks British as incorrect, which is, of course, a wrong analysis. In this post I'll honour your favourite language though. But please don't criticise my inability to memorise all these minor differences. I'm using my best judgement, so stop quarelling. Despite my American writing I still prefer metres over inches. I'm glad we had this dialogue :D
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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In two weeks I'd have a math test. I paid dearly for it and if I don't pass the test I'll pay dearly again. And I'm hating math so much that I don't even care about the money anymore... I'm just not doing any more math and I'm certainly not doing the test! :mad: I don't think I have to know math to be a good (or even great) developer. I do need to know math to get my degree though, so I've decided to do things a little different from what I've been doing... To like and understand math I'm going to blog about it. That's right, I'm going to face math, look it in the uhhh... pi, and write it down for myself and others. And by doing so I hope I'll start liking it as I have the freedom to figure it all out at my own pace and write about the things I like about it. And then maybe I can have another look at that math test in a year or so. I'm a bit concerned about LaTeX though (never used it before). WordPress does have out of the box LaTeX support, but does anyone know a good and free LaTeX editor plugin? I'm not looking forward to looking up all those character codes to write a single formula... :~
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
I needed to use algebra to design the fencing around my backyard garden so as not to waste wood and still look good. One also needs to know how to take the modulo of a polynomial to compute keys in encryption. And then there is the need to compute the degree of non-orthogonality of magnetic and electric fields when designing a flying saucer.
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I needed to use algebra to design the fencing around my backyard garden so as not to waste wood and still look good. One also needs to know how to take the modulo of a polynomial to compute keys in encryption. And then there is the need to compute the degree of non-orthogonality of magnetic and electric fields when designing a flying saucer.
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In two weeks I'd have a math test. I paid dearly for it and if I don't pass the test I'll pay dearly again. And I'm hating math so much that I don't even care about the money anymore... I'm just not doing any more math and I'm certainly not doing the test! :mad: I don't think I have to know math to be a good (or even great) developer. I do need to know math to get my degree though, so I've decided to do things a little different from what I've been doing... To like and understand math I'm going to blog about it. That's right, I'm going to face math, look it in the uhhh... pi, and write it down for myself and others. And by doing so I hope I'll start liking it as I have the freedom to figure it all out at my own pace and write about the things I like about it. And then maybe I can have another look at that math test in a year or so. I'm a bit concerned about LaTeX though (never used it before). WordPress does have out of the box LaTeX support, but does anyone know a good and free LaTeX editor plugin? I'm not looking forward to looking up all those character codes to write a single formula... :~
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
Sander Rossel wrote:
LaTeX editor
Is that Sean's latest outfit?
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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In two weeks I'd have a math test. I paid dearly for it and if I don't pass the test I'll pay dearly again. And I'm hating math so much that I don't even care about the money anymore... I'm just not doing any more math and I'm certainly not doing the test! :mad: I don't think I have to know math to be a good (or even great) developer. I do need to know math to get my degree though, so I've decided to do things a little different from what I've been doing... To like and understand math I'm going to blog about it. That's right, I'm going to face math, look it in the uhhh... pi, and write it down for myself and others. And by doing so I hope I'll start liking it as I have the freedom to figure it all out at my own pace and write about the things I like about it. And then maybe I can have another look at that math test in a year or so. I'm a bit concerned about LaTeX though (never used it before). WordPress does have out of the box LaTeX support, but does anyone know a good and free LaTeX editor plugin? I'm not looking forward to looking up all those character codes to write a single formula... :~
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
I love math, but can't say I ever learned to love LaTeX. I understand how it was useful back when my main editor was vi, but these days with editors like Word that just let you see what you're doing, I don't really get the point. That said, when I do have to work on a TeX document (because of whom I'm working with or conference format or whatever), I've found LyX to be a good WYSIWYG editor. There's definitely a learning curve, but the documentation is good, it's free, and I've always managed to get the formatting I want eventually. Good luck with the blog and I hope you learn to enjoy the math. Once you know the math enough to trust it, it's a great comfort to be able to tell yourself "mathematically this is right, so there must just be a mistake in the code."
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There can be only one (if only math were that simple)! :D
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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I love math, but can't say I ever learned to love LaTeX. I understand how it was useful back when my main editor was vi, but these days with editors like Word that just let you see what you're doing, I don't really get the point. That said, when I do have to work on a TeX document (because of whom I'm working with or conference format or whatever), I've found LyX to be a good WYSIWYG editor. There's definitely a learning curve, but the documentation is good, it's free, and I've always managed to get the formatting I want eventually. Good luck with the blog and I hope you learn to enjoy the math. Once you know the math enough to trust it, it's a great comfort to be able to tell yourself "mathematically this is right, so there must just be a mistake in the code."
The problem with mathematics is the abstract presentation as opposed to practical applications. For proof, look at any Wikipedia page on statistical tests. The mathematicians have edited them so that they are absolutely correct and absolutely useless for anyone wanting to actually code and execute a T-test or a simple ANOVA. My greatest "Aha!" moment came in grad school when I realized that the integral calculus that I pounded my head into as an undergrad was really just determining the area under a curve, and that one could accomplish the same thing with a sheet of graph paper, a pair of scissors, and a good scale (draw the curve, cut it out and weigh it, cut out a 4x4 block of squares and weight it, then calculate the ratio -- you've now integrated the curve using simple algebra and up yours Sir Isaac!). Oh, and LyX is excellent for typesetting equations.
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Lambert was appalling in the part. Ruined a good story with his faux Scottish accent. And Connery... Oy! Anyway, fun film.
R. Giskard Reventlov wrote:
Lambert was appalling in the part
Is he ever not appaling? One of the worst films ever: Beowulf[^] :)
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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I love math, but can't say I ever learned to love LaTeX. I understand how it was useful back when my main editor was vi, but these days with editors like Word that just let you see what you're doing, I don't really get the point. That said, when I do have to work on a TeX document (because of whom I'm working with or conference format or whatever), I've found LyX to be a good WYSIWYG editor. There's definitely a learning curve, but the documentation is good, it's free, and I've always managed to get the formatting I want eventually. Good luck with the blog and I hope you learn to enjoy the math. Once you know the math enough to trust it, it's a great comfort to be able to tell yourself "mathematically this is right, so there must just be a mistake in the code."
Carney Four wrote:
I've found LyX to be a good WYSIWYG editor
Thanks, I'll certainly look into that! :)
Carney Four wrote:
Good luck with the blog
Thanks again! :)
Carney Four wrote:
I hope you learn to enjoy the math
I hope so too... :sigh:
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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I needed to use algebra to design the fencing around my backyard garden so as not to waste wood and still look good. One also needs to know how to take the modulo of a polynomial to compute keys in encryption. And then there is the need to compute the degree of non-orthogonality of magnetic and electric fields when designing a flying saucer.
Bruce Patin wrote:
I needed to use algebra to design the fencing around my backyard garden so as not to waste wood and still look good
I hire people for that! :laugh:
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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R. Giskard Reventlov wrote:
Lambert was appalling in the part
Is he ever not appaling? One of the worst films ever: Beowulf[^] :)
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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Sander Rossel wrote:
I don't think I have to know math to be a good (or even great) developer.
Depending on the field you are in... if you are developing 3D games or you are in the robotics field it is more than possible you'll need math. In a lot of other cases, though, they are not needed at all...
[www.tamautomation.com] | Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing. [YouTube channel]
Or writing stock applications, or writing software for spacecraft/launch vehicles/cars/real things particularly with accelerometers.
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In two weeks I'd have a math test. I paid dearly for it and if I don't pass the test I'll pay dearly again. And I'm hating math so much that I don't even care about the money anymore... I'm just not doing any more math and I'm certainly not doing the test! :mad: I don't think I have to know math to be a good (or even great) developer. I do need to know math to get my degree though, so I've decided to do things a little different from what I've been doing... To like and understand math I'm going to blog about it. That's right, I'm going to face math, look it in the uhhh... pi, and write it down for myself and others. And by doing so I hope I'll start liking it as I have the freedom to figure it all out at my own pace and write about the things I like about it. And then maybe I can have another look at that math test in a year or so. I'm a bit concerned about LaTeX though (never used it before). WordPress does have out of the box LaTeX support, but does anyone know a good and free LaTeX editor plugin? I'm not looking forward to looking up all those character codes to write a single formula... :~
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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When hiring for computer science positions in the Engineering field, math and artistic talent are the two most important things we look at. No math talent, no artistic talent, no interest!
bwallan wrote:
artistic talent
I have a Bachelor Common Arts and Cultural Sciences as well as a Master Media and Journalism, giving me the title of Master of Arts :D Programming is mostly rules though. It's never a good thing when I find 'artistic code' :sigh: And I know some math majors who really aren't the best programmers :D
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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I've encountered two situations, one, where the math PhD's came up with an incredibly complicated algorithm for processing multispectral data (took on the order of minutes to process 6 frames of multispectral video) which, when I realized what they were doing, I converted all the FFT and bullshit into a real time lookup table transformation. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: The second was again thrown at the PhD's, this time to determine pass/fail modes in a switch ring redundancy network (stuff put into communication satellites to ensure that when a high power amplifier fails, you can switch to a spare, and it gets complicated because you're not switching electrical signals, you're switching radio waves via waveguides and whatnot, so there's physical space/weight limitations), anyways, the PhD's were trying to solve this for years. After thinking (yes, just thinking) about the problem for a couple weeks, I realized that there were simple topology rules that could be used to analyze a network. Granted, it still took horsepower, but I delivered a solution (that was 20 years ago) that is still in place and has evolved into a multi-threaded analysis application that solves for trillions of switch combinations and failure combinations in realistic time (a few hours) of churning. Funny how in both cases, what was thought to be a math problem turned out to be not a math problem, but a "think about the problem" exercise. So yeah, math is definitely needed for certain things, but the #1 rule is, just because you have a math degree hammer, not everything is a math degree nail. If it helps, math is a beautiful universal truth. Think of math as discovering the truth of something. ;) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project!
Marc Clifton wrote:
So yeah, math is definitely needed for certain things, but the #1 rule is, just because you have a math degree hammer, not everything is a math degree nail.
:thumbsup: :laugh:
Marc Clifton wrote:
If it helps, math is a beautiful universal truth. Think of math as discovering the truth of something. ;)
The only truth I discovered so far is that I'm really bad at math :sigh: I know what you mean though, that's one reason I want to get better at it :)
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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bwallan wrote:
artistic talent
I have a Bachelor Common Arts and Cultural Sciences as well as a Master Media and Journalism, giving me the title of Master of Arts :D Programming is mostly rules though. It's never a good thing when I find 'artistic code' :sigh: And I know some math majors who really aren't the best programmers :D
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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Artistic talent is normally a good indication of creativity. That and good math skills are what we've found yields the best software developer / programmer. If I require a "plugger", I can hire an Engineer.
bwallan wrote:
Artistic talent is normally a good indication of creativity. That and good math skills are what we've found yields the best software developer / programmer
What kind of application will this person code? And is a BSc or MSc degree required to be hired?
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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bwallan wrote:
Artistic talent is normally a good indication of creativity. That and good math skills are what we've found yields the best software developer / programmer
What kind of application will this person code? And is a BSc or MSc degree required to be hired?
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
Pretty much anything an Engineer can think up for which to write software. Everything from converting a sophisticated Excel spreadsheet to a corporate application to writing a simulation model for economics or some process in the Oil & Gas industry. We normally hire B.Sc. Computer Science grads and offer funding to complete a M.Sc. if the individual wishes to go that route. But a smart, creative B.Sc. individual can work wonders!
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Pretty much anything an Engineer can think up for which to write software. Everything from converting a sophisticated Excel spreadsheet to a corporate application to writing a simulation model for economics or some process in the Oil & Gas industry. We normally hire B.Sc. Computer Science grads and offer funding to complete a M.Sc. if the individual wishes to go that route. But a smart, creative B.Sc. individual can work wonders!
bwallan wrote:
But a smart, creative B.Sc. individual can work wonders!
Any smart individual with a passion can work wonders ;) Formal schooling means nothing to me. Well, it means you've been able to stand school for a couple of years, which is actually bad enough as it is. Unfortunately school means a lot to other people (like you) though :sigh:
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
