Аннотация

• Making money by implementing mathematical ideas in code • Avoiding common pitfalls in math learning • Thinking like a programmer to understand math • Using Python as a powerful and extensible calculator Math is like baseball or poetry or fine wine. Some people are so fascinated by math that they devote their whole lives to it, while others feel like they just don’t “get it.” You’ve probably already been forced into one camp or another by twelve years of compulsory math education in school.
What if we learned about fine wine in school like we learn math? I don’t think I’d like wine at all if I got lectured on grape varietals and fermentation techniques for an hour a day. Maybe in such a world, I’d need to consume three or four glasses for homework, as assigned by the teacher. Sometimes this would be a delicious and educational experience, but sometimes I wouldn’t feel like getting loaded on a school night. My experience in math class went something like this, and it turned me off of the subject for a while. Like wine, mathematics is an acquired taste, and a daily grind of lectures and assignments is no way to refine one’s palate.
If you miss this, it’s easy to think you’re either “cut out” for math or you aren’t. If you already believe in yourself and you’re excited to start learning, that’s great! Otherwise, this chapter is designed for you. Feeling intimidated by math is so common, it has a name: “math anxiety.” I hope to dispel any anxiety you might have, and show you that math can be a stimulating experience rather than a frightening one. All you need are the right tools and the right mindset.