4 ms·

I can count on zero fingers the number of times I've needed to know any sort of calculus working in tech.

• WalterBright 5y ago
  I've known many engineers who could have simplified their work if they'd used calculus, but they were afraid of calculus and went to considerable lengths to avoid it. For example, I know one who was trying to reduce the noise in an electronic circuit. He randomly tried adding resistors and capacitors of various values. Until eventually a coworker looked at it, calculated the right values in a few minutes, and eliminated the noise. I've seen this sort of thing again and again, in diverse fields.
  • GeorgeTirebiter 5y ago
    There is a fellow I know who gives embedded design seminars, and he -- intentionally -- puts up one slide that has an error in showing Maxwell's Equations. He notes that in Europe, especially Germany, almost every time he puts up that slide, someone politely points out his "typo". In the USA? He said about 1 in 50 seminars somebody does the same. If you are doing engineering, and you don't know cold both multi-variable integral and differential calculus, you have no right calling yourself an 'engineer' IMHO.
    • WalterBright 5y ago
      Sadly, I'd flunk that test. Although I was taught ME, and understood them, and still remember what they are and do, I don't recall the exact form of them anymore. But if I did need them, I know enough to know just were to look to refresh my memory :-)
  • jimmyvalmer 5y ago
    Your example will only resonate with a small minority since most of us here are web and CRUD jockeys. Also, your claim to have "seen this sort of thing again and again, in diverse fields," is patently disingenuous. Even the most maths-intensive groups in tech deal largely with discrete methods.
• scollet 5y ago
  Gamedev will flex those muscles in a fun and rewarding way.