BTW I'm not good at math but I would love to after taking some Online courses available. I'm wondering what's the highest math level you need to be a good Hacker?
Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
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Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#2#define "good hacker"
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#3The thing about math is that it isn't a requirement for most things in life, but there are almost zero things that aren't helped by learning math
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#4The thing about math is that it isn't a requirement for most things in life, but there are almost zero things that aren't helped by learning math
I believe the question is one of prioritization. More things in life are helped by learning business mathematics than learning K-theory.
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#5I think statistics and then discrete mathematics are the most important.
Here's an old rant by Shaw on the importance of statistics for programming - http://zedshaw.com/archive/programmers-need-to-learn-statist... .
Beyond those two, it depends very much on the type of programming you do.
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#6The problem I see is a math problem and a computer problem both involve problem solving. So, if you don't enjoy problem solving then I doubt you'll enjoy programming. Not that you can't become a proficient programmer, but if you don't enjoy thinking about something until you "get the answer" I doubt you'll like your job.
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#7For most programming jobs, high school algebra (and then really only for the concept of variables).
Add trigonometry and potentially calculus for 3D graphics, game development, and high finance quant stuff.
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#8Rather than focusing on math maybe this might help http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#9I don't know what "hacker" means in this context.
In general most programming requires middle school levels of maths if that. A lot of maths knowledge higher than that is similar to programming, but learning the maths itself doesn't really make your code better in and of itself.
That being said there are specific jobs that require much much higher levels of maths in particular statistics, physics, and similar. But the vast majority of programming jobs are just business-information which requires near to none.
I don't use any non-trivial maths day to day and haven't since the start of my career. But I don't work in the science/economics/games development fields, I work in one of the many "boring" programming jobs. We are the silent majority.
Re: Ask HN: What's the highest math level you need to be a hacker?
#10The problem I see is a math problem and a computer problem both involve problem solving. So, if you don't enjoy problem solving then I doubt you'll enjoy programming. Not that you can't become a proficient programmer, but if you don't enjoy thinking about something until you "get the answer" I doubt you'll like your job.
There are many different types of problem solving. For example, diplomacy is a type of problem solving. So is plumbing repair.
Even in programming, I found that I like solving problems with a physical basis, but not more business-oriented problems like equipment management and payroll, or financial problems like derivatives pricing.
I therefore don't think it's useful to consider this as a "problem solving" issue.