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I use discrete math quite often, but rarely calculus—at least nothing more complicated than knowing what integrals and derivatives are (not how to actually calc
by organsnyder 3y ago
I use discrete math quite often, but rarely calculus—at least nothing more complicated than knowing what integrals and derivatives are (not how to actually calculate them). I mainly work at the application level, though: understanding business processes and other "soft" skills are much more relevant than advanced math.
I fully expect some companies to still be using Java 8 in fifty years.
- creer 3y agoHaving internalized what it is and what they are and how they work in general is not to be discounted. The usefulness of education is often not in the detail of the rules but in this internalizing. You now know about this concept and it will come to mind without even noticing it when useful when something passes in front of you. If only in business, interest rate or commission is not a small number each time, but adds up. Growth rate is properly "compounded growth rate". Etc.
- organsnyder 3y agoThat’s a good point. Taking calculus and other courses definitely helped to provide a good foundation. But, for anyone struggling in those courses and wondering if they can make it in this industry: a barely-passing grade in Calculus II won’t be a career-ender. :-)
- sitkack 3y agoEugenia Cheng has a funny quip about how the US is the only place that studies calculus as hard as we do. It sounds like she would like it to be a footnote, and not the main course.