MHB Computer languages & math learning

[Aramathia]

Hello All.

I am a an adult who bombed mathematics at school. The past 20 years I have been increasingly interested in reading around physics and math topics; but I am constantly stymied by my lack of mathematical training.
So, to remedy this, I have been trying to teach myself math for the past couple of years, with mixed success.

Recently I started learning BASH shell scripting. This has opened my mind to the possibilities of learning a programming language AND revising/exploring/extending my math base; stated another way: to find a language which would be fun to learn, intrinsically fascinating, but instrumentally useful for revision of and extension of my math education (which, I emphasise, is still only pre-calculus)

MY QUESTION:

Can I have suggestions as to a suitable 2 or 3 programs likely to help me achieve:
1. my stated aims;
2. at my current level of math attainment; and
3. with my current newbie status to programming?

Much appreciated in advanced,
Aramathia

 

[Ackbach]

The best language to learn for helping you learn math is, in my opinion, Mathematica (or the Wolfram Language, as it's now called). You can sign up for a free account at the https://user.wolfram.com/oauth/authorize/cloud?oauth_token=c0b8352b21e977112855c0f26406de9e0566c8951&oauth_callback=https%3A%2F%2Fdevelop.wolframcloud.com%2Fapp%2Fj_spring_oauth_security_check%3Fproductname%3DWolfram%20Development%20Platform%26learnabout%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.wolfram.com%2Fdevelopment-platform%26preview%3Dfalse%26logo%3Dwolfram_development_platform, and execute full-blown Mathematica commands. Now, this free account isn't going to give you loads of computing cycles so that you can do lengthy calculations. But it'll do an awful lot. It'll certainly do loads of plotting for you, and so on. The online documentation is excellent. Mathematica is, hands down, the best symbolic computer algebra system in existence. So that's what I would recommend.

 

[alyafey22]

I would suggest to learn python. It contains lots of libraries and it is easy to use for mathematical purposes.

 

[Aramathia]

Re: computer languages & math learning

. Mathematica is, hands down, the best symbolic computer algebra system in existence. So that's what I would recommend.

Many thanks.
I should have specified: I actually want to learn an all-purpose (as opposed to specialist) programming language which will be strong on math but able to the broad range of programming jobs.

I"m looking at Mathematica but leaning towards Python, as I've just found loads of good learning environments and resources.

regs,

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I would suggest to learn python. It contains lots of libraries and it is easy to use for mathematical purposes.

Thanks.
I'm looking into it.
Felt tempted towards Haskell for a while but think I will go with the more beginner-friendly of the two, which is of course Python.
regs,

 

[alyafey22]

Re: computer languages & math learning

Thanks.
I'm looking into it.
Felt tempted towards Haskell for a while but think I will go with the more beginner-friendly of the two, which is of course Python.
regs,

Good luck, Python is very interesting. If you have a question regarding Python you can post here. I and others might be of help.