Do You Really Need Math to Code?

It honestly depends on what you're working on. As a web developer, I mostly just use basic math. But if you get into backend systems, you might deal with some math for efficiency. In data science, there's loads of math involved with algorithms, while cybersecurity focuses heavily on cryptography. If you're into graphics programming, expect to tackle vector math and trigonometry.

What you need really hinges on your field. In game dev, we use matrices for things like transformations and vector math for AI and graphics. You don’t need to memorize equations; just understand when to apply certain functions. Based on my experience, knowing calculus, linear algebra, and some basic statistics is pretty standard for most roles in tech, and a computer science degree covers most of it anyway.

I studied software engineering, which meant tackling subjects like Probability, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra. However, in my daily coding, high school level algebra and some geometry are all I've really used. Math isn't as daunting as it sounds—it's more about how you apply logical thinking and problem-solving in coding.

Trigonometry and linear algebra are key in gaming. But don’t worry if math isn’t your strongest suit. You just need to know the right math concepts to use; the computer does the heavy lifting. Understanding normalized vectors is crucial, especially in 3D. As for data structures and algorithms, they get trickier but are essential for optimizing performance in game development.

For beginners, knowing algebra is essential, but once you dive into 3D programming, vector math comes into play. It's not too tough, and unless you want to delve into the nitty-gritty of shaders and quaternions, most game engines handle the complex stuff for you. Programming classes typically touch on math to train your problem-solving skills as a dev.