How important is maths? - Developers

I would like to know, how important is maths in programming? I'm doing a course next year, and there is Java and VB being taught. It's a games development course, with other aspects like modelling, design, etc. I'm bad at maths though, and from what I've heard, alot of programming requires a good standard of maths :/

Well generally yes, as you will need an understanding of 3d maths and algebra in order to rearrange equations before you implement them. Though you should be able to get by.

It does require a good deal of mathematics. It depends entirely on what you're doing. Some tasks require a lot of vector calculations (but that's more C++). Some tasks require a lot of financial shit, which can also be sort of complex math.

Well, it depends what you'll be doing. For a lot of games, it does require high level math ability for calculating trajectories, inverse matrices, etc, etc. I'm not saying it can't be done with a lower level or math ability, it will just be a lot harder. P.s. google is your friend. :)

[QUOTE=Mattz333;17929927]Well generally yes, as you will need an understanding of 3d maths and algebra in order to rearrange equations before you implement them. Though you should be able to get by.[/QUOTE] And this, also.

[QUOTE=andersonmat;17929930] P.s. google is your friend. :)[/QUOTE] Google is too impersonal :)

For general programming you need a good grasp of logic. The inclusion of anything mathematical depends on what you're doing. As for games development, you'll need a grasp of geometry, trigonometry, and some pre-calculus stuff such as vectors, matrices, and quaternions. If you're going to do any physics related things, you'll need some calculus knowledge.

[QUOTE=VoiDeD;17929952]For general programming you need a good grasp of logic. The inclusion of anything mathematical depends on what you're doing. As for games development, you'll need a grasp of geometry, trigonometry, and some pre-calculus stuff such as vectors, matrices, and quaternions. If you're going to do any physics related things, you'll need some calculus knowledge.[/QUOTE] Exactly this.

Thanks guys :) (there's always one ghost rater;))

I think Garry got a D or C in GCSE maths and he is doing fine. He made a good point in that you don't need to necessarily know how to do the maths just know how and when to use it. Sorry if I am misquoting you garry I think it was you who said that.

VoiDeD's answer was good as far as [i]knowledge[/i] (the classes you've taken), but as far as [i]understanding[/i] (how well you did in those classes), as the OP asked, if you have a hard time understanding math then you may have a hard time understanding programming logic. (Everyone's different, yadda yadda) See: [url]http://stackoverflow.com/questions/157354/is-mathematics-necessary-for-programming[/url] Bottom line is, depending on what you're programming, you can go years without ever writing an algorithm. But at the same time, math uses the same parts of your brain as programming.

[QUOTE=conman420;17932313]I think Garry got a D or C in GCSE maths and he is doing fine. He made a good point in that you don't need to necessarily know how to do the maths just know how and when to use it. Sorry if I am misquoting you garry I think it was you who said that.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.garry.tv/?p=1151[/url] [quote=Garry] [B]Were you already a mathematical genius or did that come after years of practicing code?[/B] My math is awful. I struggle with the most basic things. [/quote]

Yes and no.I've been studying computer engineering for about 1.5 years now and after doing some C and Java the maths that I've found useful so far are vectors and matrices. Some areas of maths are more relevant than others in programming, some are not relevant at all. Both in mathematics and programming the key concept is LOGIC. Logic is the core of both mathematics and programming; You can't say that programming is based in mathematics or vice versa. I don't like mathematics and I hated vectors, but when I came to use them in programming I saw them from a whole different angle which suited me better.

Why do you keep calling it maths

[QUOTE=compwhizii;17935048]Why do you keep calling it maths[/QUOTE] Because he is twelve and thinks its cute.

[QUOTE=compwhizii;17935048]Why do you keep calling it maths[/QUOTE] Because that is what it is called in other countries.

[QUOTE=compwhizii;17935048]Why do you keep calling it maths[/QUOTE] Because it is short for 'mathematics.' It is no more wrong or right than calling it "math" like Americans do. You don't call it "mathematic" as in the singular. Also, it can be thought to stand for [I]Mathematical Anti Telharsic Harfatum Septomin[/I].

[QUOTE=compwhizii;17935048]Why do you keep calling it maths[/QUOTE] That's what it is called in Britain.

Okay.

Well math is The most important thing :D what the hell is an inverse matrice?

It's pretty important to know the basics of derivative graphs, intergrals and third grade equations. Nah, I have no idea what you need to know.

[QUOTE=TheCroc;17936054]Well math is The most important thing :D what the hell is an inverse matrice?[/QUOTE] Ok, you know what a matrix is, right? You know that you can multiply and cross matrices too, right? Well, oftentimes to correct for transformations in the game world (like when you click on some point on the screen, and you want to find what 3d object you clicked on) then you need to step back through the matrix transformations. This is done by using [I]inverse matrices.[/I] The product of a matrix and its inverse is the identity matrix. If you have a transformed vertex or point (which comes up a lot in 3D) and you want to undo those transformations, you gotta multiply by all the inverse matrices in the opposite order they were originally applied.

[QUOTE=Cathbadh;17938559]Ok, you know what a matrix is, right? You know that you can multiply and cross matrices too, right? Well, oftentimes to correct for transformations in the game world (like when you click on some point on the screen, and you want to find what 3d object you clicked on) then you need to step back through the matrix transformations. This is done by using [I]inverse matrices.[/I] The product of a matrix and its inverse is the identity matrix. If you have a transformed vertex or point (which comes up a lot in 3D) and you want to undo those transformations, you gotta multiply by all the inverse matrices in the opposite order they were originally applied.[/QUOTE] :psyboom:

[QUOTE=Cathbadh;17938559]Ok, you know what a matrix is, right? You know that you can multiply and cross matrices too, right? Well, oftentimes to correct for transformations in the game world (like when you click on some point on the screen, and you want to find what 3d object you clicked on) then you need to step back through the matrix transformations. This is done by using [I]inverse matrices.[/I] The product of a matrix and its inverse is the identity matrix. If you have a transformed vertex or point (which comes up a lot in 3D) and you want to undo those transformations, you gotta multiply by all the inverse matrices in the opposite order they were originally applied.[/QUOTE] Hey that's pretty cool actually. Thanks. Have a heart.

[QUOTE=high6;17935096]Because he is twelve and thinks its cute.[/QUOTE] why so ignant?

at my school i need to take up to calculus 3 for computer science. most of it's useful.

[QUOTE=SomeFaggot;17938692]:psyboom:[/QUOTE] Short and oversimplified answer: it's the matrix analogue of a reciprocal. Any number multiplied by its reciprocal is 1; any matrix multiplied by its inverse is the identity matrix (which is analogous to 1 as far as multiplication is concerned). Just like a reciprocal, you can use it to "undo" a matrix multiplication and get back the original matrix.

They should use basic programming to teach maths in schools. Would make the experience much more bearable. ^^

I was programming just fine before I knew basic algebra. Programming can be learned independently of mathematics. Basically just understanding the concepts behind addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division should be enough. Knowing more math will help with doing some optimizations but it's really not a big requirement to learn how to write software. Of course if you're planning on writing mathematics tools or games or simulation software, you'll need to know the underlying mathematics and theory behind what you're developing.

[QUOTE=F33P;17945800][b]I was programming just fine before I knew basic algebra.[/b] Programming can be learned independently of mathematics. Basically just [b]understanding the concepts behind addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division should be enough.[/b] Knowing more math will help with doing some optimizations but it's really not a big requirement to learn how to write software. Of course if you're planning on writing mathematics tools or games or simulation software, you'll need to know the underlying mathematics and theory behind what you're developing.[/QUOTE] Wait, aren't addition, subtraction, multiplication and division all part of knowing [b]basic algebra[/b]?