I want to be a programmer/software developer, and as I start grade 10 next year, its time to think of subjects to do. My school offers poor choices in terms of programming so I went with ITS and DCP (Macromedia Flash and Digital Publishing). I also did business. However, I want to mostly know about Maths, what difficulty of maths should I do? My school offers Maths A, B and C. Maths A contains basic trigonometry but is mostly algebra Maths B is much more complex, with advanced trigonometry, some calculus, and very difficult algebra. Maths C is lateral thinking and problem solving, and is the most dificult of the lot. What one would be best to do if I want to be a programmer?
Maths is good because it will help you think in a very logical manor which is useful for programming. I personally think this is more important if you are looking at web or non-3D applications for your programming than trig or algebra - if you are doing something that requires complex formulas on a website like a tax calculator the client will normally provide these for you and even a basic understanding will allow you to plug in value from textbox 1 into variable A in the formula. If you are looking at the gaming world (where a lot of 3d people work) then the practical maths will come into play much more. I did a lot of maths at school/ collage but enjoyed doing the elements that would fit in your Maths C option
I don't personally think that your math skills count that much in Programming. Coz programming is more about understanding the scripts than doing calculations, though it does gives you a good imagination when dealing with shapes. You can do whatever you want. I am a Biology Student, and I also have Maths in my A Levels, and I am also a Web Designer and Programmer along with it. You see my school combinations don't really effect what I do online.
It is mainly to do with the logic - for example if you wanted to do a staff holiday booking system with the business rules automatically authorising requests that are within the rules..... The logic structure enables you to consider how to do the search if one of the rules is that no more than 2 people can be on holiday on a single day - from experience this was a pain to do.
I am very good at maths, and already do some grade 11 Maths B work, and don't find it very difficult, so naturally I would do Maths C, but if I do, I also have to Maths B Thanks for your opinions guys, BP