Do I need to memorize geometry and calculus for tech jobs?
Hi I'm a high school student in sactown and I need to decide what to do about my math classes. I asked a question here before about whether you use math in your job in tech and got alot of really helpful advice. Thank you for everyone who answered my question. Now I want to ask more specifically about geometry and calculus. I'm trying to do my best with as much math as possible, but I'm wondering if I really need to memorize all of these proofs and theorems and concepts if I want to work in tech. I think algebra may be useful to remember, but what about calculus? Do you use it? If not, what math do you actually need, so I can focus on those and spend the rest of my time doing other things I need to get done for classes or my part time job. #technology #software #programming #math #tech
3 answers
Eric’s Answer
I agree with what Tiffany said. In many ways, it's not that you need to memorize the proofs and theorems you're doing, or likely any proofs or theorems in particular. Rather, it's having done so once. That teaches you certain ways to think about problems.
Like most students, there are many parts of math which I learned for a semester, took my tests on, and then, over the next few years, largely forgot. But, it means that I know how to approach them.
For a concrete example, shortly after I took a Differential Equations class, when I was already starting to lose some details from it, I was trying to write an AI-controlled spaceship in a computer game. It needed to be able to look at how far it wanted to go and how strong its thruster was, and from there calculate how long to fire the rocket. At first, this seemed very complicated. Then, I realized that I was describing a particular kind of differential equation called a boundary value problem. This was enough of a start for me to look up how to actually do it, and allowed me to write the code.
Geometry can kind of lead into certain forms of Graph Theory, and graphs (in the mathematical sense, so nodes with lines connecting them, not x/y plots) can be a very useful tool in programming. But again, what's more important is that you learned it at some point, so that if you need to again, you have the dimly-remembered hints to help you pick out what you need.
Thank you Eric. This makes me feel much better. I feel sometimes like every teacher says everything in their class is important for us to know to succeed in life, and that sounds true in a way, but definitely not true in the sense that we need to remember it all every day. Thank you!
Robert
Tiffany Clark, CUA
Tiffany’s Answer
The short answer is no, you don't need to memorize calculus equations, or proofs or theorems... unless you want a job specifically doing calculus or proofs or theorems. Most jobs aren't like that. I don't have them memorized, that's for sure.
The thing about math education is that it teaches you how to look at a problem, and the process to think critically about solving it. If I need to do something more advanced mathematically in my algorithms, I usually look it up. But yes, you will need algebra - that's important. But you likely wont need to memorize complex algebraic equations either.
You don't need to memorize it but you need to be able to apply the skills you have learned taking the calculus courses in solving mathematical issues that will arise in your tech jobs.
Felix Ayika, CFE
Thank you Tiffany. I don't plan to get a job specifically doing calculus or proofs. I feel like in class they spend way too much time making us practice the same thing over and over, even if we already understand the concept. But that's just the way it is, I guess. I feel much better now with your help thanks.
Robert
Monty’s Answer
You don't need to memorize calculus and geometry, you need to understand them. Unfortunately schools have to focus on the process and lose the qualitative understanding. If you think of a derivative as the rate of change and then understand that the second derivative is rate of change of the rate of change you can see where it is useful in things like the stock market. If you go into game development understanding geometry and physics becomes part of how you build games and will eventually be second nature.
Thank you Monty. I really appreciate the help!
Robert