Several Years Ago

Several years ago, I realized I had a serious insecurity about my math knowledge. I had been touting the idea that I didn’t need maths as a developer, although I only half believed it.

I had stumbled my way through some recursion, but it was rare, but I could figure it out again, right? Right…

Then a friend of mine started a business with the core product being a statistical engine, and it hit a little too close to home. I was supposed to be the computer person…and I had no idea what he was talking about.

So, I put aside my excuses, and opened a book. A book named internet.

I was trying to understand the things he told me he was using. I say things, because I didn’t know what to call them. Algorithms? Models? Statisticalasti…we can just stop there.

My patience for my lack o understanding wore thin. Maybe…maybe I wasn’t quite as competent or intelligent as I thought.

That’s ok. If I were going to university, what course would I have taken before Algorithms?

Statistics, apparently.

Hmm. I don’t understand this at all.

So I took a took a step down.

Calculus. I’ve definitely heard of that.

Damn.

Trigonometry?

!@#$

Geometry? I mean, I took it in high school. Babies can recognize shapes, so I should be ok.

Hrm.

Algebra? II at least.

Ok Algebra 1.

Ok, back to middle school we go.

Intermediate Algebra.

I UNDERSTAND THIS. 💥

Ok, well the victory is small, but it’s still a victory. And I ran with it.

I looked for courses wherein the presentation format was something my design aesthetics and patience could withstand, and I came across a guy on YouTube named Kahn. Sal Kahn. Apparently he was a math teacher making helper videos for his cousin. 
These videos are straight to the point. And they’re not just reading the book, they’re actually expository about related concepts.

These are…almost made for me.

So Intermediate Algebra. I knew this was going to take a while, but honestly, I had nothing else to do. I had no job at the time, and my expenses were low enough that I could make do without one for a while. I still had a motorcycle left over when I had money, and it was paid off. I had a friend who would trade tasks for a room in his house.

I mean, sort of. Honestly, I think he took pity on me, but I had no problem with that.

So it began.