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A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

jeremykun.com

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Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#81

Post by axiometry »

theoh wrote: post #73
mlevental wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wtf is wrong with hn. >[sorry if I am being blunt, but it's how I feel] you should learn to keep your feelings to yourself when the only function they serve is to denigrate others and derive cruel satisfaction for yourself. >Here is a rule of thumb that in my experience applies well to almost everything in mathematics this is aspirational pretension - everyone claims to appreciate formal purity /after/ they've learne…

"wtf is wrong with hn" One thing that's wrong with HN is that perceived "negativity" often gets condemned in exactly the way you have done here. It seems as if a significant number of HN readers have never really participated in a spirited discussion with arguments made from multiple different perspectives. Maybe any kind of apparent conflict scares them, maybe they project their own aggression onto a comment that se…

There are many easy ways to rephrase OP's comment into one that isn't so direct and denigrating. The only thing "apparent" here is that OP has trouble with empathy.

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#82

Post by _Nat_ »

To the author:

You might want to extend the preview PDF to include a few pages from later chapters. The issue's that the [current preview](https://pimbook.org/pdf/pim_first_pages.pdf) only gets into polynomials over its 45 pages. But since polynomials are typically taught to students during early childhood, it seems like most readers are liable to just skim that content, being more interested in the topics discussed later. For example, the start of Chapter 14 (on optimization) would be neat to see.

That said, I like the parts that translate between analytical expressions and programming code. Such mappings seem like high-value content to readers; the language barrier can keep people from understanding mathematical writing, while a few helpful translations can help to tear down those language barriers.

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#83

Post by tptacek »

mlevental wrote: post #62
andrepd wrote: post #47

From the bit I've read from https://pimbook.org/pdf/pim_first_pages.pdf it seems to be very very poor. * 19 pages of droning before you start with something concrete. Much talk talk talk about your experiences before you get to the point. I can't put into words how much it frustrates me when I'm expecting to read something interesting and the author takes 3 paragraphs talking about nothing (usually with lots of overe…

wtf is wrong with hn. >[sorry if I am being blunt, but it's how I feel] you should learn to keep your feelings to yourself when the only function they serve is to denigrate others and derive cruel satisfaction for yourself. >Here is a rule of thumb that in my experience applies well to almost everything in mathematics this is aspirational pretension - everyone claims to appreciate formal purity /after/ they've learne…

This was close to being a great, meaty comment, but personalizing your criticism kind of ruined it. Which is too bad! I’m inclined to agree with the substance of what you’re saying.

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#84

Post by bsg75 »

j2kun wrote: post #78
alan_wade wrote: post #69

I really wish this book would include probability and statistic sections. My guess is that a lot of people, like me, will want to read it because they're getting started with ML and need help getting used to the math, and probability/stats is an important part of it that's missing. Any chance you could add it in the future?

Well, two chapters have singular value decomposition and neural networks as the applications. So it does have a lot of ML :) But yes, I unfortunately had to cut a probability chapter. I think someone who reads this book would have a much easier time learning probability after, and a better foundation.

> I think someone who reads this book would have a much easier time learning probability after, and a better foundation.

So will you be following up with a prob & stats book? ;)

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#85

Post by westoncb »

_Nat_ wrote: post #82

To the author: You might want to extend the preview PDF to include a few pages from later chapters. The issue's that the [current preview]( https://pimbook.org/pdf/pim_first_pages.pdf ) only gets into polynomials over its 45 pages. But since polynomials are typically taught to students during early childhood, it seems like most readers are liable to just skim that content, being more interested in the topics discusse…

> But since polynomials are typically taught to students during early childhood, it seems like most readers are liable to just skim that content, ...

My view was that the initial chapter was more about how to learn mathematics generally using polynomials as a source of examples, rather than being on the subject of polynomials like you'd get in grade school.

Agreed though—I would like to see some of the later material, too :)

Edit: actually you can skip around and see more on the Amazon preview.

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#86

Post by melbourne_mat »

alan_wade wrote: post #69

I really wish this book would include probability and statistic sections. My guess is that a lot of people, like me, will want to read it because they're getting started with ML and need help getting used to the math, and probability/stats is an important part of it that's missing. Any chance you could add it in the future?

https://greenteapress.com/wp/think-stats-2e/

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#87

Post by andrepd »

axiometry wrote: post #81
theoh wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"wtf is wrong with hn" One thing that's wrong with HN is that perceived "negativity" often gets condemned in exactly the way you have done here. It seems as if a significant number of HN readers have never really participated in a spirited discussion with arguments made from multiple different perspectives. Maybe any kind of apparent conflict scares them, maybe they project their own aggression onto a comment that se…

There are many easy ways to rephrase OP's comment into one that isn't so direct and denigrating. The only thing "apparent" here is that OP has trouble with empathy.

"Direct", yes. "Denigrating", how?? I'm genuinely asking so I can fix that in the future, unless you think criticising is offending.

>The only thing "apparent" here is that OP has trouble with empathy.

Again, I can do without the online pretend-therapy. Amazing how perceptive some people are that they deduce the most profound things from a dozen lines of text!

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#88

Post by j2kun »

_Nat_ wrote: post #82

To the author: You might want to extend the preview PDF to include a few pages from later chapters. The issue's that the [current preview]( https://pimbook.org/pdf/pim_first_pages.pdf ) only gets into polynomials over its 45 pages. But since polynomials are typically taught to students during early childhood, it seems like most readers are liable to just skim that content, being more interested in the topics discusse…

The Amazon preview has more pages, in case you're still curious.

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#89

Post by mlevental »

krick wrote: post #80
mlevental wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wtf is wrong with hn. >[sorry if I am being blunt, but it's how I feel] you should learn to keep your feelings to yourself when the only function they serve is to denigrate others and derive cruel satisfaction for yourself. >Here is a rule of thumb that in my experience applies well to almost everything in mathematics this is aspirational pretension - everyone claims to appreciate formal purity /after/ they've learne…

As far as I can tell, you are what's wrong with HN. His post is a well-justified opinion, with reasoning provided, whether you chose to agree or disagree with that. Somebody may (or may not) take it into consideration. Yours are simply "how dare you!"-post, adding absolutely no value to the discussion. Also, learn capitals, it's hard to read you like that.

there is zero justification in the post I responded to outside argument from authority and prescription so i have no idea what you're talking about

Re: A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics

#90

Post by mlevental »

theoh wrote: post #73
mlevental wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wtf is wrong with hn. >[sorry if I am being blunt, but it's how I feel] you should learn to keep your feelings to yourself when the only function they serve is to denigrate others and derive cruel satisfaction for yourself. >Here is a rule of thumb that in my experience applies well to almost everything in mathematics this is aspirational pretension - everyone claims to appreciate formal purity /after/ they've learne…

"wtf is wrong with hn" One thing that's wrong with HN is that perceived "negativity" often gets condemned in exactly the way you have done here. It seems as if a significant number of HN readers have never really participated in a spirited discussion with arguments made from multiple different perspectives. Maybe any kind of apparent conflict scares them, maybe they project their own aggression onto a comment that se…

there are zero "arguments" in the post I responded to outside of argument from authority. there's nothing about /why/ precise definitions are better than meandering, nothing about simplicity etc just proclamation that it is
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