Many developers avoid learning math because it can seem intimidating. However, understanding math unlocks the secrets of the entire physical universe and makes complicated magic like computer graphics and neural networks easier to understand. In this blog post, we will go through 10 essential math concepts for programmers, explained using memes and visual aids.
- Boolean Algebra
Boolean algebra is used almost every time you write code. A Boolean is a binary variable that can have two possible values: true or false. There are three operators that you can use to work with them: AND, OR, and NOT. We can represent this logic and code with things like if statements, but we can also do it visually with Venn diagrams. Understanding Boolean algebra is important because it helps programmers make logical decisions in their code.
- Numeral Systems
Computers work off of a base 2 numeral system, which is why binary is so important in programming. Base 2 works the same way as base 10, but because there are only two symbols to work with, each place is multiplied by two. Understanding base 2 also helps in understanding other bases, like base 16 or hexadecimal, which is commonly used to represent binary values in a more concise way.
- Floating Point Numbers
While computers use base 2 under the hood, they still need to represent base 10 numbers for humans. The most common way to do this is with floating point numbers, which allows developers to make a trade-off between range and precision. Some numbers, like 0.1, can’t be represented perfectly as a binary floating point, which is the reason we get those tiny rounding errors.
- Logarithmic Functions
Logarithmic functions are used in many algorithms like binary search. Exponentiation is the opposite of logarithm. If we know how many times we cut a log, we can raise 2 to the power of that value to get the original length of the log. Logarithm, on the other hand, helps us figure out how many times we’d have to cut the log to get a length of 2.
- Set Theory
A set is just an unordered collection of unique values. In programming, sets are commonly used in relational databases where each table is a set of unique rows. These tables can be joined together in a variety of different ways based on set theory. Understanding set theory is important for creating efficient and effective database queries.
- Discrete Mathematics
Discrete math deals with structures that have a finite number of elements. It includes concepts like sets, logic, and combinatorics. Understanding discrete math is important for programming because it provides a foundation for algorithm design and data structures.
- Linear Algebra
Linear algebra deals with linear equations and vectors. It is important for programming because it is used in computer graphics, game development, and machine learning.
- Calculus
Calculus deals with rates of change and accumulation. It is used in physics, engineering, and economics. Understanding calculus is important for programming because it is used in many machine learning algorithms.
- Probability and Statistics
Probability and statistics are used in machine learning, data analysis, and game development. Understanding probability and statistics is important for programming because it helps programmers make informed decisions based on data.
- Number Theory
Number theory is the study of numbers and their properties. It includes concepts like prime numbers, divisibility, and modular arithmetic. Understanding number theory is important for programming because it is used in cryptography and computer security.
In conclusion, math is an essential part of programming. While it can seem intimidating at first, understanding math concepts can help programmers create more efficient and effective code.
Disclaimer: We may not be able to provide 100% perfect information. We gather questions and get answers from experts. The experts provide answers but the text is not written directly by them so there may be some typos. I prefer to put this note at top but that causes some issues with display. Thank for reading
