It is very likely that the most important new algorithms in the next few decades will involve probability theory.
Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
11–20 of 101 posts
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#12It really depends on your domain. Knowing more math is never a bad thing. It provides you tools for you to model and solve problems. That said, two areas that I felt most broadened my horizons are probability and linear algebra. They are pretty ubiquitous topics that come up regularly in more sophisticated and exotic algorithms.
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#13Lots of areas are important. Every job I have worked has had a specific math specializations that were important. Reed-Solomon codes are used in storage and communication systems. They make use of abstract algebra (finite/Galois fields). Linear systems theory is essential for signal processing and control systems. Quaternions are important in aerospace and graphics.
About 40 years ago the company I was working for bought a big videotape recorder, and procured a custom controller for it to use it as a large random access storage device. The controller used a large Reed-Solomon code to detect and correct fairly large multi-bit errors. It worked quite well, storing images for Boeing, Lockheed, and McDonnel-Douglas aircraft maintenance manuals.
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#14Mathematical logic for playing around with conditionals, Principle of counting for understanding complexity
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#15Formal languages[0]. Well, if you want to learn about compilers and programming languages.
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#16Better question: what areas aren't?
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#17Category theory.
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#18Basic algebra for the substitution model and basic calculus for high order functions and the notion of a transformation in general. Set theory is, probably, the most fundamental. Everything could be defined as a set or as a function. Lambda calculus, obviously. Some combinators. Basics of linear algebra. No category theory and other bullshit is needed. Sets will do. It is actually very important skill to avoid wastin…
What's "The Wizards Lectures"?
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#19Math is rarely necessary for software development. However, math is one way great engineers distinguish themselves from okay engineers.
I work primarily on audio software. Linear algebra is most important, followed closely by signal processing. Those are sufficient to write good software. Great software requires statistics, calculus (mostly for optimization but also modeling), and discrete math (again mostly for optimization). Other specialties probably require more discrete math and less linear algebra and signal processing.
Re: Ask HN: Which areas of math are practical to programming/algorithms and why?
#20Basic algebra for the substitution model and basic calculus for high order functions and the notion of a transformation in general. Set theory is, probably, the most fundamental. Everything could be defined as a set or as a function. Lambda calculus, obviously. Some combinators. Basics of linear algebra. No category theory and other bullshit is needed. Sets will do. It is actually very important skill to avoid wastin…
What's "The Wizards Lectures"?
The set of video lectures from 1986 by Abelson and Sussman.
https://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.001/abelson-sussm...
Timeless classic. And nostalgic diving back into 80s. And MIT Scheme on a monochrome monitor with a clicky keyboard.