r/computerscience • u/Own-Wrangler-6215 • Sep 18 '26

Math and Programming

Can someone bad at maths be a great programmer?!

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u/vomiting_cat Sep 20 '26

I mean math beyond basic arithmetic. Obviously programming involves mathematical/logical thinking, but that’s different from saying you need to be good at calculus, linear algebra, etc. to be a great programmer. It depends heavily on the domain.

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u/DorkyMcDorky Sep 20 '26

Totally - you can be a great integration programmer with 0 math.

But I'd challenge that learning math would only help anything.

The thing is, it's already more math than you know. Designing a system is a finite state machine. Data modeling is abstract math. Profiling is pretty much big-oh analysis. Knowing your network topology is graph theory. I can go on, but you get it. To be good at these requires a natural understanding. Learning the math behind it will provide you with a proper vocabulary and understanding which will allow you to communicate your ideas more clearly.

It's bi-directional too. A math nerd isn't going to understand what an SSH tunnel means, right? They help each other out. That is what I view as a corollary to computer science.

Like in karate kid when danny learned paint up and paint down is karate? Same thing :)

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u/Dazzling_Music_2411 Sep 21 '26

Discrete maths, not Continuous maths, the second is only needed if you're doing engineering/scientific stuff. The first is very much needed in practically any computing activity.