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The math I learned during my computer science degree has never been of the slightest use to me. The math I've actually needed, I've learned on the job from online references.


Hmm, maybe you're just really smart but I find your statement a little hard to believe. All of my mathematics education has been invaluable in coming up with approximate solutions that are easy to implement and provide good enough answer that can then be refined further. The only reason I can do this is because I spent a bunch of time studying real analysis and wrapping my head around what it really means to approximate one function with another one that is close enough and has enough structure to make certain arguments simpler.

Similarly the time I spent learning formal logical systems, differential geometry, category theory, abstract algebra, etc. might not be directly applicable but the thought patterns and problem solving techniques I developed studying those subjects are invaluable in pretty much all my day to day activities as a programmer. Being able to think on a slightly higher plane of abstraction and then lowering a solution on the higher plane to something more concrete is an extremely valuable skill that I don't know how you can learn and develop any other way.




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