From: Kevin Smith <kevinbsmith@...>
Date: 2001-09-23T03:37:15+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:21558] Re: Math and Programming

--- "Florian G. Pflug" <fgp@phlo.org> wrote:
> What the computer can do for you is not math. Math is not
> about calculation
> - math is about logic and abstraction.

Math means a lot of different things. Arithmetic is a part
of math. Geometry is a part of math.

> Math is much more. It's about abstracting reality,

I'll agree that this is a component of math, and that this
component of math is also a major component of programming.

> Of course you are right if you say that you don't need >
a lot of mathematical knowledge for programming. But 
> you need the same skills as someone doing math, mainly 
> the ability to abstract reality (because reality is 
> not only too difficult for us, it's also too difficult 
> for the computer), and you need logic because thats 
> what computers are based on.

Well put. I'm not sure I agree that the skill sets are
completely overlapping, but I do agree that abstraction and
logic are major components of both fields.

> Now, if you are a good programmer (which I have 
> absolutly no doubts about), you surely also have the 
> skills to understand math. And you would surely
> have no problems reading a book that demands this kind 
> of skills. 

Very true. However, ability is different from interest.
Also, a beginning programmer may not have built up their
abstraction and logic skills yet. I suspect it might be
easier for them to do so in one domain (programming) rather
than two at the same time (math and programming). But
that's just me. Ignore me and I'll go away.

> Who believes that most people would have the skills for
> math - but for some (educational?) reasons they are 
> afaid of it

Some are afraid. Others (like me) have spent enough time
with math to "get" it, but still dislike it, except in
those cases where it is relevant to my task at hand.

Kevin

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com