Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

[Mountaineer]

Thank you for the insights.

I am (was?) at a crossroads about going further and taking multivariable calculus. The previous math courses are still fresh in my head. I actually really enjoy math, and I'm fascinated to learn more.

However, everyone I've talked to that actually works in industry has been telling me that doing more math will be of minimal benefit in the real world. Further, instead of using my remaining credit hours on math I could take more programming which seems to be more beneficial. The amount of time math takes to really absorb is also weighing on my mind.

I'm strongly leaning towards focusing purely on programming courses for my last couple of semesters instead of taking tangentially related courses like math.

Ancient history comment: Try something like Advanced Applied Math. Applied to what was what I discovered. It was full of triple integrals and dell dots and dell crosses. Useless except for the three math credits I needed.

[Mark Leavy]

I'm strongly leaning towards focusing purely on programming courses for my last couple of semesters instead of taking tangentially related courses like math.

You're a smart dude, Smith. I think you're on the right track. You probably don't need any more calculus for what you want to do. If you did, I imagine you could pick up what you wanted to in a heartbeat. If you absolutely wanted to take more math that you will use in engineering and programming, I always like to see linear algebra and statistics. Unfortunately, I've never seen any of them taught well, so it is hard to recommend them.

I don't know how you give someone an intuitive sense of what is happening with matrix transformations, linear equations, distributions, probabilities and sparse solutions, but whatever the hell they teach in school doesn't do it. But once you get it in your head, you feel like Neo seeing through the matrix. And you can name your price as an engineer. It will get used.

[Kriegsspiel]

If you know what's going on with Excel formulas, then you're good to go.

[pp4me]

If you're going to work in the financial sector which the vast majority of programmers do, it's all about simple number crunching and it's true that you don't need anything but basic math plus boolean algebra to be successful. I'm a good example of that myself.

If you're going to apply to NASA, Rocket X, Pixar, etc, more advanced kinds of math might look a lot better on your resume.

[vnatale]

Thanks, guys. I was talking with some hiring managers and people currently working in industry doing software engineering. They all said the same thing.

"You will never use calculus."

I can’t recall having to use calculus in my 50+ years of software development.

After I'd completed the equivalent of four semesters of calculus the one and only other time I'd ever encountered it again was when it was used in a next semester's statistics class.

Vinny

[Xan]

I don't recall ever using linear algebra or statistics in programming either. The best math course I ever took for that was Discrete Math, which you've probably already taken.

[vnatale]

Thank you for the insights.

I am (was?) at a crossroads about going further and taking multivariable calculus. The previous math courses are still fresh in my head. I actually really enjoy math, and I'm fascinated to learn more.

However, everyone I've talked to that actually works in industry has been telling me that doing more math will be of minimal benefit in the real world. Further, instead of using my remaining credit hours on math I could take more programming which seems to be more beneficial. The amount of time math takes to really absorb is also weighing on my mind.

I'm strongly leaning towards focusing purely on programming courses for my last couple of semesters instead of taking tangentially related courses like math.

Ancient history comment: Try something like Advanced Applied Math. Applied to what was what I discovered. It was full of triple integrals and dell dots and dell crosses. Useless except for the three math credits I needed.

I started out as a math major in college. I came in with seven credits from high school advanced placement calculus. Got A's in Calculus 3 & 4 freshmen years. Absolutely ate up all the formulas involved in 4 - differential equations.

But then got totally sunk by Advanced Calculus (dropped it -- all theoretical and proofs) and Modern Algebraic Theories (I either got a C or a D. What had happened to all my beloved numbers??!! All I was seeing for numbers were the problem numbers!)

Vinny

[Mark Leavy]

When I was in my 20's I ran across an old copy of this book at a yard sale. I spent several years working my way through it. Best damn education for the dollar I've ever seen.

General Electric A Course.png (708.03 KiB) Viewed 2854 times

Well, that and old British Navy book on celestial navigation.

[Tortoise]

Ah, almost forgot to check back in about this! You know that math class I was doing all that belly aching about a while back? I got an A+ in it.

Congratulations, Mr. Smith! A well-deserved victory.

[Dieter]

If you're going to work in the financial sector which the vast majority of programmers do, it's all about simple number crunching and it's true that you don't need anything but basic math plus boolean algebra to be successful. I'm a good example of that myself.

If you're going to apply to NASA, Rocket X, Pixar, etc, more advanced kinds of math might look a lot better on your resume.

In other words, if you want to do cool stuff, take math.

If finance / business software, meh.



I work in IT. Not in above "cool" stuff.

And yeah, cool stuff that doesn't take advanced math, but can be a differentiator on a resume at least early on.

[Smith1776]

Thank you too for the kind words Tortoise!

Yeah, I'm resolved on the situation. Only computer science/programming courses for the rest of my credential. If I decide to do more formal education later on (we'll cross that bridge when we get to it), I can always pick back up where I left off.

[dualstow]

Smith, remember us when you’re working your way up at Intuit or creating your own new hip startup.

[Smith1776]

Smith, remember us when you’re working your way up at Intuit or creating your own new hip startup.

If I work at Intuit I'll probably end up getting fired for being "that guy that's always talking about his 'pee pee'" lol.

[Kriegsspiel]

Smith, remember us when you’re working your way up at Intuit or creating your own new hip startup.

If I work at Intuit I'll probably end up getting fired for being "that guy that's always talking about his 'pee pee'" lol.

You should call it your smithereen. With careful context-clue management... they'll never know

[Smith1776]

You should call it your smithereen. With careful context-clue management... they'll never know

"Blow my smithereen."

"Don't you mean 'blown to smithereens'?"

"No."

[Smith1776]

So my home internet has been down for about a week and I've been tethering off my phone for an internet connection. I have an LTE speed data cap of 8GB and I get throttled down to 3G for anything past that. So, basically, I've been living in the year 2008 for the past couple days.

I'm currently sitting in a Starbucks and I think I'm going to hermit here as long as I can lol. Sitting at home trying to access the internet via 3G has been like seeing the world by looking through a straw. Ironically, I think the limited connectivity was making me more productive. Without access to YouTube and Netflix I pretty much had to work and study.

With Starbucks only offering half its normal seating I feel like I'm in prime real estate. I just hope I don't have to pee soon....

[dualstow]

No Tim Hortons? What kind of Canadian goes to Starbucks?

[Smith1776]

No Tim Hortons? What kind of Canadian goes to Starbucks?

The pretentious kind.

[drumminj]

So my home internet has been down for about a week and I've been tethering off my phone for an internet connection. I have an LTE speed data cap of 8GB and I get throttled down to 3G for anything past that. So, basically, I've been living in the year 2008 for the past couple days.

You're living the charmed life! When I first moved to Seattle I was unemployed, and used my phone (with 2G) via tether as my internet access for 9 months, until I found a job. Ironically...that was in 2008!

It is amazing how much of our time revolves around internet access these days. As you say, it's probably a good thing to get a reminder of and break from, so you can focus on other things.

[Kriegsspiel]

I've lived... yeesh, over 7 years of my adult life without home internet. You spend less time fucking around on it, that's for sure.

[Mountaineer]

I've lived... yeesh, over 7 years of my adult life without home internet. You spend less time fucking around on it, that's for sure.

Sheeeeeeesh you youngsters. I made it fo 50 years w/o Al Gore’s invention.

[Smith1776]

I have to pee... guess I'm going home.

(Starbucks has closed their bathrooms.)

[Mountaineer]

I have to pee... guess I'm going home.

(Starbucks has closed their bathrooms.)

Just be glad you’re young. You got a lot more work done than an oldster would have.

[Smith1776]

I have to pee... guess I'm going home.

(Starbucks has closed their bathrooms.)

Just be glad you’re young. You got a lot more work done than an oldster would have.

lol!! I really should have known better than to order that huge coffee.

[Mountaineer]

I have to pee... guess I'm going home.

(Starbucks has closed their bathrooms.)

Just be glad you’re young. You got a lot more work done than an oldster would have.

lol!! I really should have known better than to order that huge coffee.

Just think of it as kidney stone prevention. Now go have a couple of beer chasers and you will be good to go - again!