Re: Dumbing down?



Jeff Rollin wrote:
In the last episode, on Thursday 24 May 2007 21:00, Ken Tilton wrote:



Jeff Rollin wrote:

A friend (who should know better than I) and myself both agree that an
understanding of maths is necessary to be able to program.

So why do so many introductory textbooks insist that it isn't?

Sorry, point of information: you and your friend agreeing on X has
exactly what power over X's truth?

hth,kt



Heh. As I've already had to admit, that was a lousy metric to have started
out with.

A better question might be, "what are the arguments for and against a good
understanding of maths being necessary to programming?

The better question definitely is: where the h*ll do you (and a friend who should know better than I) even /see/ maths in programming?!

Suppose I hack up a little finite state machine to help me come to grips with a hairy little bit of functionality (IPC over a mechanism where either party can be expected to go South at the most awkward of times). Is that math? Asking, not arguing.

kt

--
http://www.theoryyalgebra.com/

"Algebra is the metaphysics of arithmetic." - John Ray

"As long as algebra is taught in school,
there will be prayer in school." - Cokie Roberts

"Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra."
- Fran Lebowitz

"I'm an algebra liar. I figure two good lies make a positive."
- Tim Allen

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