What level of math do you need to know before programming?

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A friend and I were arguing again. Yes, it is the same douche bag that picks up chicks bragging about HTML being a programming language. He said programming doesn't require any level of math knowledge beyond the basics (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication). I told him he was full of **** and that any decent programmer would know algebra and geometry at the very least while recommended was probably trig. What do you think? What math level do you know?

[Hignar]

As a general guide I'd say you're about right. Some knowledge of algebra is a must and most will probably find a need for basic geometry and trigonometry at some point. How much you need to know depends on what you want to work on though.

What is perhaps more important than the actual level of maths knowledge is the sort of logical thinking studying maths at a more advanced level develops.

Unless I work on some very specific scientific software I doubt my maths will ever hold me back. I've got a masters in pure maths.

[WingedPanther]

I had a disagreement with a student about this very topic. He insisted that he didn't need math for programming, and his programming teacher (who didn't like math) had said as much. He came to me a few months later looking for information about graphics. He was shocked/horrified that he would need trig extensively for simple graphics.

Reality: algebra is almost essential. Boolean logic is vital. Trig, graph theory, combinatorics, formal logic, and linear algebra are useful on a regular basis. Calculus, numerical analysis, statistics, and number theory also come in handy, as can complex analysis. I use abstract algebra as my mental model for classes, inheritance, and operator overloading.

Think of it this way: it's hard to model something in the real world without being able to do the math that is necessary for the associated discipline.

[John]

It depends on what you are doing. 90% of the programming I do (both academic and industry) only requires basic arithmetic, basic logic and the concept of a variable (which one might consider algebra).

[oliver.rush]

Yeah, for stupid things nobody needs a lot of math. But if you are going to do something really cool, you will need tons of math. Otherwise, all your programs will do is use brute force to solve every single problem. Can you say it is a good method?

Have any of you seem the last round of Google Code Jam? Here's my tip, relapse: ask your friend to solve those problems, then let's see what he thinks about programming and math.

[Guest]

You can program with limited math, but limited math means limited programming. I think good programming skills have a direct stem from good math skills. You need good math skills to come up with efficient algorithms. Even simple things in programs can rely heavily on boolean logic and the use of variables, so if you aren't up to par with your algebra skills, programming will be very hard. My level of math is Pre-Calculus, and it helps me a lot in my programming.

[Shaddix]

I always s*cked at math, I always only had enough for it at school, and one year I had to do my year over because of maths

but for programming I'm doing quite ok for programming

[MathX]

Can we say it like this: A good Mathematician = A good Pogrammer ?

[WingedPanther]

No, unfortunately. I've known several talented mathematicians who could barely use a computer.

[Shaddix]

both math scientists and programmers need to be able to think logically, it's the most important factor, but it's not the only one, so that factor doesn't always aply