For many people, programming is an unknown subject, most of them assuming that every program is a good mathematician.
In this article, we will address this dilemma that many have before they get their hands on a computer card: Do you need to know the mathematics for programming?
So here's the first consideration of it that frightens or at least discourages many.
The link between programming language and mathematics undoubtedly exists, and the basic concepts of high school make the work of any computer enthusiast considerably easier. Yet the very term “language” is a rather hasty expression of teaching a foreign language, isn't it? Only by looking at things from this angle can we realize that almost anyone who first considers themselves passionate about learning has a real chance of learning the secrets of programming.
The myth that if you know mathematics, you can learn a programming language more easily is contested by a recent study.
A research team from the University of Washington has come to the conclusion that you don't necessarily need to know mathematics to learn a programming language.
The explanation for this is quite simple. Learning the programming language is similar to learning a foreign language. Therefore, you must learn foreign words, grammar words, and how they work together to communicate ideas and intentions. Other cognitive functions related to both areas, such as problem-solving and memory utilization, also play key roles.
“Many barriers to programming, from necessary courses to stereotypes about what a good program looks like, are centered around the idea that programming relies heavily on mathematical skills, but the idea is from our data,” said the main author of the paper, Chantel Prat.
The research examined the neurocognitive skills of about 40 adults while learning Python, a programming language. Finally, they noticed that those who learned Python faster and more accurately have a mix of problem-solving skills and language.
In conclusion, fear of mathematics must not intimidate you to study the appointment.
Do you have to know the mathematics for programming? Myth or reality?
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