Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Can i learn Math

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 34 posts

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#21

Post by arethuza »

blobb wrote: post #14
ctmkpp wrote: post #11

What is your specific goal? What are you trying to achieve with math? I would start there first. If your goal is to get a math major level of understanding of math, then I would look at what the standard curriculum is in universities.

Math that can help me to be a good programmer.

That in itself is quite an interesting question - there are bits of (quite simple) maths that are useful in general programming (logic etc.), maths that can be used in particular domain areas (simulation, crypto etc.), maths that models computation itself and can underlie the design of languages (Turing Machines, Lambda Calculus etc.)...

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#22

Post by ColinWright »

blobb wrote: post #17
ColinWright wrote: post #4

"Math" is huge, and I mean HUGE - there's vast amounts of it, and most of it you won't care about, and is irrelevant to you. For most people, yes, you can learn math. In particular, you can learn the bits of math that are relevant, interesting, and useful. But for some parts of it, it won't be easy. Some parts you'll find obvious once it's explained to you in a way that suits how you think. Other parts will seem myst…

I said man i dont know anything in math.

I'm pretty sure that's an exaggeration. Can you count to ten? Do you know what 8 plus 5 is? Do you know what 3 times 5 is?

Seriously, start here:

https://www.khanacademy.org/math

If you get stuck there are on-line resources and people who will help. If you don't make time for it or put in the effort, nothing and no one can help.

Everyone starts from the beginning, some later than others. Take your chance now, it's never to late to start, but starting sooner gives you the best chances.

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#23

Post by blobb »

omginternets wrote: post #12
brudgers wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because the question is perfectly clear, the comment is rude and unproductive. Please stop.

I beg to differ. It may not be enjoyable for OP to hear my criticism, but I insist that it is productive. You can't expect to go far in the professional world writing like that. Again, I suspect OP is a bright guy (especially since he's trying to learn on his own!), but the way he writes does him a huge disservice.

Thanks for support man

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#25

Post by brudgers »

omginternets wrote: post #12
brudgers wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because the question is perfectly clear, the comment is rude and unproductive. Please stop.

I beg to differ. It may not be enjoyable for OP to hear my criticism, but I insist that it is productive. You can't expect to go far in the professional world writing like that. Again, I suspect OP is a bright guy (especially since he's trying to learn on his own!), but the way he writes does him a huge disservice.

The criticism was unsolicited. It was off topic and mean.

There are many places on the internet where that type participation is the most intellectually interesting activity that occurs. Hacker News is what it is because it isn't one of them.

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#26

Post by brudgers »

rolfvandekrol wrote: post #9
omginternets wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We can nitpick about "first" or "!first", but the central point stands: the way OP writes makes him sound dumb, which is a shame as he's most likely bright.

My first thought was that the OP is a troll.

That doesn't make the question less [or more] intellectually interesting. It doesn't excuse anyone's behavior beyond flags, downvotes, and the range of constructive behavior bounded by HN guidelines.

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#28

Post by Grue3 »

blobb wrote: post #17
ColinWright wrote: post #4

"Math" is huge, and I mean HUGE - there's vast amounts of it, and most of it you won't care about, and is irrelevant to you. For most people, yes, you can learn math. In particular, you can learn the bits of math that are relevant, interesting, and useful. But for some parts of it, it won't be easy. Some parts you'll find obvious once it's explained to you in a way that suits how you think. Other parts will seem myst…

I said man i dont know anything in math.

You did manage to calculate your age though. You either knew your birth date and substracted it from the current date, or you remembered your age and added 1 every time your birthday came up. Either of these methods requires knowing some math.

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#29

Post by blobb »

ColinWright wrote: post #22
blobb wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I said man i dont know anything in math.

I'm pretty sure that's an exaggeration. Can you count to ten? Do you know what 8 plus 5 is? Do you know what 3 times 5 is? Seriously, start here: https://www.khanacademy.org/math If you get stuck there are on-line resources and people who will help. If you don't make time for it or put in the effort, nothing and no one can help. Everyone starts from the beginning, some later than others. Take your chance now, it's ne…

I know adiddition multiplication division in basic not with higher numbers like 899×99 or 88/177.

Re: Ask HN: Can i learn Math

#30

Post by puppetmaster3 »

ColinWright wrote: post #24
puppetmaster3 wrote: post #15

Can you watch a video for 15 minutes? http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vv1BUCkgsr8

That's pretty advanced for someone who claims to know absolutely nothing about math.

mmm... depends what country you grew up in.

But I'll say if you can do derivatives, you know some math, up to that, you know of math.

Post reply on HN