Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#1

Post by haskellandchill » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 2:34 PM UTC

Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder
artima.com

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#2

Post by p1esk » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 5:53 PM UTC

One can argue that today’s coder needs to understand how code-generating LLMs work. Which means learning a bit of linear algebra, calculus, and probability/stats.

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#3

Post by Pamar » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:03 PM UTC

p1esk wrote: post #2

One can argue that today’s coder needs to understand how code-generating LLMs work. Which means learning a bit of linear algebra, calculus, and probability/stats.

Not sure I agree.

"A bit of linear algebra, calculus and probability/stats" would make you better equipped at leveraging LLM? Or do you mean that having "a bit" of those you would be able to implement/train you own custom LLM to write code for you?

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#4

Post by jebarker » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:21 PM UTC

p1esk wrote: post #2

One can argue that today’s coder needs to understand how code-generating LLMs work. Which means learning a bit of linear algebra, calculus, and probability/stats.

I agree that most coders would be well served to learn some linear algebra and probability theory as those are ubiquitous. Calculus and stats are also useful depending on your specialty. LLMs don't really change any of this.

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#5

Post by masters3d » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:27 PM UTC

There is another book by the same author but it seems out of print https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/faculty_books/459/

Similar title: A brief course in modern math for programmers

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#6

Post by zeroonetwothree » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:36 PM UTC

Why is the title so generic? It seems the subtitle is the real title…

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#7

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:49 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#8

Post by vpatryshev » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:55 PM UTC

masters3d wrote: post #5

There is another book by the same author but it seems out of print https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/faculty_books/459/ Similar title: A brief course in modern math for programmers

That was the first edition of this book.

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#9

Post by fiforpg » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:58 PM UTC

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #6

Why is the title so generic? It seems the subtitle is the real title…

Yes, the title is comically non-specific. It is also mildly misleading: the table of contents/abstract mention boolean logic (after John Boole, 1815–1864), set theory (Georg Cantor, 1845–1918), Curry-Howard correspondence (middle 20th century), etc.

It does say "This book is not for mathematicians" — or the nit-picking historians of mathematics I imagine... Plus one should not judge a book by its cover or anything written thereon.

Re: Modern Mathematics (Pre-Print) Cutting-edge math for today's coder

#10

Post by bee_rider » Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 6:59 PM UTC

p1esk wrote: post #2

One can argue that today’s coder needs to understand how code-generating LLMs work. Which means learning a bit of linear algebra, calculus, and probability/stats.

I don’t think that’s the case really; if you go in the HPC/scientific computing direction and learn a bunch about linear algebra, how much does it teach you about LLMs? I did some linear algebra stuff… but LLMs just look like oddly shaped GEMVs.