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The fourier transform. Encountered it first in my undergrad engineering degree, it was presented as dry mathematics, with no real explanation, just threw comple

The fourier transform. Encountered it first in my undergrad engineering degree, it was presented as dry mathematics, with no real explanation, just threw complex exponentials at us, and pages of derivations. Years later I actually use it in my job, and through that and other material can see its beauty, and how its actually not that complicated. Some great resources like this helped a lot: [0] https://betterexplained.com/articles/colorized-math-equations/ https://betterexplained.com/articles/colorized-math-equation...

sjaak 4y ago
This is what made it click for me, can recommend it: 3Blue1Brown -- But what is the Fourier Transform? A visual introduction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUNpyF58BY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUNpyF58BY
- kippinitreal 4y ago
  That video did the same for me. I also like the reducible video for Fast Fourier Transforms as well as the Veratasium piece that shares some fun history. Reducible - FFTs the most ingenious algorithm ever https://youtu.be/h7apO7q16V0 https://youtu.be/h7apO7q16V0 Veritasium - The Most Important Algorithm of All Time https://youtu.be/nmgFG7PUHfo https://youtu.be/nmgFG7PUHfo
  - Akronymus 4y ago
    The FFT is something I still can't quite grok, for some reason.
    - Gibbon1 4y ago
      I had the same problem. Then I took a math course where we covered the general fourier transform and it made way more sense. An the FFT is the result of a simplifying transformation based on discrete regularly spaced points and that's really opaque from the other side.
    - rramadass 4y ago
      I guarantee that you will be able to "grok" it from this book: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34207380 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34207380
  - tails4e 4y ago
    100%,those are excellent, but didn't exist when it first clicked for me. Being in university now must be great having such access to explanations that really get to the root of a concept
rramadass 4y ago
In case you didn't already know; Who Is Fourier?: A Mathematical Adventure is an excellent illustrated book on this.
- tails4e 4y ago
  Thanks, I'll look it up!

sjaak 4y ago

This is what made it click for me, can recommend it: 3Blue1Brown -- But what is the Fourier Transform? A visual introduction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUNpyF58BY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUNpyF58BY

kippinitreal 4y ago
That video did the same for me. I also like the reducible video for Fast Fourier Transforms as well as the Veratasium piece that shares some fun history. Reducible - FFTs the most ingenious algorithm ever https://youtu.be/h7apO7q16V0 https://youtu.be/h7apO7q16V0 Veritasium - The Most Important Algorithm of All Time https://youtu.be/nmgFG7PUHfo https://youtu.be/nmgFG7PUHfo
- Akronymus 4y ago
  The FFT is something I still can't quite grok, for some reason.
  - Gibbon1 4y ago
    I had the same problem. Then I took a math course where we covered the general fourier transform and it made way more sense. An the FFT is the result of a simplifying transformation based on discrete regularly spaced points and that's really opaque from the other side.
  - rramadass 4y ago
    I guarantee that you will be able to "grok" it from this book: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34207380 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34207380
- tails4e 4y ago
  100%,those are excellent, but didn't exist when it first clicked for me. Being in university now must be great having such access to explanations that really get to the root of a concept

rramadass 4y ago

In case you didn't already know; Who Is Fourier?: A Mathematical Adventure is an excellent illustrated book on this.

tails4e 4y ago
Thanks, I'll look it up!