There's also o(f(n)), g(n) is a member of o(f(n)) if the limit as n goes to infinity of g(n)/f(n) is zero. Finally, there is asymptotic equality: f(n) ~ g(n) if the limit as n goes to infinite of g(n)/f(n) = 1. O,o and ~ are all subtly different, but if you're just trying to prove upper bounds then O(f(n)) is the one that comes up most frequently, which is why it's probably the only sort of asymptotic analysis most CS grads know.
Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
41–50 of 100 posts
Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#42The Y Combinator and the pumping lemma seem a bit contrived on that list, especially the former. I would add the maximum margin separation equation, which underlies many modern machine learning methods like SVMs and MMMF, and the P=NP equality question.
Understanding the pumping lemma is essential to really understanding why regular languages are limited. Which in the real world is important for quickly assessing the question of "can I hack this solution together with some clever regexps or do I need a real parser?" I'll agree that the y-combinator is less essential, however if you even have a sense of what's going on it means that you have an understanding of the b…
Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#43Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Fair enough, but note that the list doesn't say "true software engineers should know" but "true computer science geeks should know".
My response to this is that I am a "true computer science geek". Why isn't P=NP (or P!=NP) on that list? Why not more about set theory? Why not proof by induction? How about lambda calculus? There is far more to CS than what that list implies. I realize that it's not supposed to be all-encompassing, but seriously, saying it's "something all CS geeks should know", in my mind is unfair - I have little understanding of…
Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#45Bayes Theorem isn't totally at the heart of Bayesian v non-Bayesian statistics. Bayes Theorem can still be true if you're in a strictly frequentist framework.
Can?? When is it not true? It's a theorem, after all.
Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#46So, I take it I shouldn't even consider getting a CS degree since I really suck at math?
Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
My response to this is that I am a "true computer science geek". Why isn't P=NP (or P!=NP) on that list? Why not more about set theory? Why not proof by induction? How about lambda calculus? There is far more to CS than what that list implies. I realize that it's not supposed to be all-encompassing, but seriously, saying it's "something all CS geeks should know", in my mind is unfair - I have little understanding of…
y-combinator is on there representing lambda calculus at least ...
Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#48Since it seems like the multicore thing is here to stay, may I suggest that if you are doing anything parallel you should know about Amdahl's law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_computing#Amdahl.27s_l...
Re: Equations True Computer Science Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
At two jobs now I've had a conversation with talented comp sci grads and we all agreed 99% of programming is drudgery and the 1% that requires you to turn off your music and sit in dead silence is rare and still not as challenging as comp sci syllabuses (syllabi?) would suggest. An unfortunate side-effect is that many people who could have become highly productive mid-level programmers are scared off because they don…
I disagree. Programming is math. Highly advanced math, in fact. It's just a different type of math. And the 11 equations in the OP's article just barely touches on what CS is about. There is far more to it than that.