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> When people program, they (usually) don't do math. And that's it. I disagree. Whenever you implement an algorithm, you build a proof of correctness in your m
by algorias 13y ago
> When people program, they (usually) don't do math. And that's it.
I disagree. Whenever you implement an algorithm, you build a proof of correctness in your mind. If you reasoned about your program and are convinced that it handles all corner cases properly, then it would only be a formality to write this proof down. If you can't easily do that, then you can't possibly be certain that your program has no bugs.
In practice, you don't bother with this kind of thing unless you are writing extremely complex algorithms, of course, but that doesn't change the underlying principle.
- pavelrub 13y agoIf you don't usually bother with this kind of thing, it means that you don't usually do this kind of math when you program.
- Iftheshoefits 13y agoAlgorithms researchers may be employing the mathematics of computing depending upon the particular subject and scope of study. That body of non-CS academics (mathematicians, physical scientists, and engineers) who use mathematics daily as a primary component of their research are doing math when they write programs--but not necessarily the mathematics of computing. Almost everybody else who writes programs isn't thinking in terms of mathematics, be it of computing or any other thing. Asking "what level of mathematics is this equivalent to" is therefore kind of a nonsense question--it has no real answer, because it implies there's a legitimate comparison to be made when there isn't.