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what math skills will i need to develop?

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G. Mark’s Answer

Remember that what math skills will be useful to you depends on what you choose to do. If you get into computer science or related fields, finite or discrete mathematics will come in handy. If you get into physics or a related discipline, calculus of various types will be useful. In engineering, the projects you get involved in could require all of those. But in general life, you'll need at least basic arithmetic.

Now, I suspect you're actually asking about something a bit more ambitious than just the bare minimum to survive. For most creative endeavors or more ambitious projects, I'd recommend a bit of each of those previously mentioned, but I'd add geometry. Knowing various geometric principle and proofs has come in handy for me so many time it's hard to track. If you build anything or repair anything or try to understand any machine or process, geometry is great. And if you get to the point of geometric proofs, it will give you insight into how many, many things work. And geometry is fun. A lot of the very basic principles you learn will leave you saying, "Now THAT'S cool!" or "I never thought of that!"

Now, I'd say that some things based on mathematics have tended to be ignored or forgotten by most people. That's unfortunate, because people make decisions and develop opinions and even vote everyday in ways that would completely change if they had knowledge of these things. One is statistics. People generally don't understand the fallacies involving anecdotal evidence and distributions. This makes them vulnerable to all sorts of foolishness and lies. Another is economics. I'd say of every ten people I meet, at least nine of them have no idea how the economy works, why capitalism works, where money comes from or goes, what the principle behind insurance is, and the list goes on and on. This is bad because people base their voting on misconceptions and this affects us all. And in a country with the clout of the US, this is bad for the world. And make no mistake about it, ignorance not only diminishes progress, but causes pain and suffering.

So learn some math. Take a course in logical argument. It makes stuff a lot clearer.

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Rachel’s Answer

You will need pretty much all the mathematics you can get! Focus on Calculus and everything that is a prerequisite to it.  My Electronics and Computer Engineering degree had requirements of all maths up to Calculus II.  I did not have to take any Statistics, but I had Physics.  You will be doing a little bit of Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus for sure. 

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