Should you major in Computer Science if you suck at math ?

[selam]

What's your programming experience? Do you want to create a poker bot?

I know Java, Javascript, some Python, and played around with Lisp. I've created simple projects in all of these languages. For example a tic tac toe bot in Common Lisp. A website for my photography that involves about 200 lines of Javascript. BigDecimal and BigInteger classes that can add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals and integers of any length... and implemented this in Python as well.

My goal is to work on more complex problems, and eventually work myself up to working on the most complex programming problems. I didn't even know what programming was 3 years ago so the biggest hurdle has been getting my confidence up to know that it is something that I can do.

A poker bot isn't my goal, but I was poker player and have spent thousands of hours playing NL Texas Holdem... which is why I know that creating a good poker bot isn't a trivial project. Just thought it would be helpful to hear how you worked your way up to tackle a project like that.

 

[patscorpio]

i know what i did to pass the higher level math courses for computer science major was make friends with the math majors

at least 2-3 times a week I was in the library getting involved with them in study groups...i dont think i would have passed those classes without doing that

 

[playplayaj]

Maybe somewhere along the way (grammar school perhaps) you didn't fully learn the earlier concepts of math because that's very important. I tell everyone how great khanacademy is it works plus it's free.

I did struggle with math in elementary school. But I had an A in everything else. I just don't have a mental capacity for anything above algebra. I passed Praxis math to get my teaching license by studying for 15 minutes a day out of a cliff notes book. And you can't use a calculator on it

 

[agnosticlady]

Yes...as corny as it sounds you can do anything that you put your mind to

 

[Gold]

You don't have to be a math wiz, but you have to have 2 things going for your

1) Resolve
2) Diligence

Math is the barrier for most people who get into engineering.

For my degree I had to take the following
1) Intregal Calc 2 (tested out of multivariable)
2) Differential Equations 1 and 2 (the worst)
3) Linear Algebra

And this doesn't even consider Physics (Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics) which is just Calculus with words

People need to know what they want and where their strengths lie before borrowing thousands for the government to take classes.


So let me be the voice of reason: If you cant cut it with math, you have business in the school of engineering

 

[Gold]

as dude just said, most people just aren't good at math. I'd like to think computer science is more rooted in logic and problem solving than anything else anyway....

It is, but that still doesn't change the fact that they'll force you to take math courses.


Now if his question was "Can I become a developer with math skills?" I would say yes, easily actually.

As long as you understand basic operands (boolean and otherwise) and a firm grasp of variable algebra (not even calculus), that's all the math you will need for most programming.

I can count on 2 hands the times I had integrate differentials into my code and all of those times were when I was programming games. For work I needed almost 0 math whatsoever

 

[Rawtid]

No.

 

[PinotNoir]

I did struggle with math in elementary school. But I had an A in everything else. I just don't have a mental capacity for anything above algebra. I passed Praxis math to get my teaching license by studying for 15 minutes a day out of a cliff notes book. And you can't use a calculator on it

oh wow, see goes back to the earlier foundation. i heard Praxis is tough

 

[PinotNoir]

i took computer science in highscool and it was hard as fukk. coincidently i sucked dikk at math so yea you need to be good at math. math is the most important subject because it tests how smart you are. anyone can memorize states and presidents in history class but you gotta actually use your brain in math open up that 7th dimension nah mean?

Lol, math is not the most important subject in school and it has nothing to do with testing how smart one is either. Lets say a person is illiterate but there're "good" at math, except word problems because of the obvious, being literate in your language is the important foundation to understanding math. I'd never say to a person that only smart people can take up math easily and do well at it. If you have the determination to succeed and not a considerable developmental delay/disability, than one could do okay maybe even well at the subject. I also get that you're trying to say, it helps you to think logically and creatively at the same time.

 

[Spatial Paradox]

In terms of curriculum, most undergraduate CS curriculums will have you taking calculus courses, with maybe some linear algebra thrown in for flavor. So if you feel like a calc 1 course might be trouble, then you should brush up on algebra and trigonometry and get comfortable with those first.

But to be honest, the math that's most relevant to computer science as an area of study is discrete math (I like to think of it as the calculus to computer science's physics). As long as you have a basic grasp of logic and algebra, discrete math isn't really difficult at all.

 

[patscorpio]

What about discrete!

I hated discrete math largely because of my professor who gave us pop quizzes every class...even the classes after the exams ...thank god it was a 200 level class in the CS curriculum and as long as I didn't fail it would count. If it was a 300 or 400 level class or if I was a math major it would be a different situation

 

[CrimsonTider]

Math is just about practice, I would suggest getting your pre reqs out of the way at a community college since it's cheaper (if you don't have a scholarship). Once you get the hang of math, you really learn how to problem solve and discover patterns. There's no such thing as being good or bad at math, you just can't cram shyt in and hope to pass. It really takes a lot of dedication. Either way, unless you are a Math major, you really are not required to take extremely advanced math courses. You definitely have to take calculus and probably some stats, but I'd suggest getting a tutor. Take advantage of the labs your college offers.

This is absolute Bullshyt

 

[Dameon Farrow]

People in here really looking too deeply into this. OP if you suck at math...notice the word he used when he asked...suck not halfway proficient....not on the verge of a full blown grasp......not great at calculus but sucky at trigonometry....dude said suck. If you suck at math and jump on the computer science curriculum you will have a bad time. Justify any other version of reality all you want but you aren't getting a degree until you complete those maths. All those Is on your transcript. Ya'll are killing me in here.

 

[Llcoolbay]

When they start giving you word problems the whole test

Mess up one part and you probably tanking the whole problem

Got Bs and As tho, had me in tutoring every week

Had a teacher tell a student maybe this major isnt for you

 

[Elle Driver]

This is absolute Bullshyt

Math is predictable, and it's full of patterns. All you need to do is practice thoroughly and understand the concepts. If you don't, you will do horribly.