Thread: Am I the only hater of chem?

  1. #1
    Software Developer jverkoey's Avatar
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    Am I the only hater of chem?

    I've found lately that I have a very bad prejudice against anything chem. I really don't like it. The only reason I'm taking it is because Waterloo's admission thing says you should take chem to get in to comp sci there.....which is stupid, why do programmers need to know chem?? Maybe I'm missing something...but unless you're designing software for a chem solver or a program that shows the periodic table, I can't think of any practical use for it.....

    Meh, maybe it's just me, I personally love math and physics, I've made it through grade 12 physics perfectly fine without having taken chem and now I'm doing the grade 11 chem and not understanding any of it (which I think has to do with the fact that I have to do it online, blegh)

    So, yah, anyone else here a hater of chem or am I the only programmer who really doesn't like chem?

    </rant>

  2. #2
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    > Am I the only hater of chem?

    No.

  3. #3
    Software Developer jverkoey's Avatar
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    > No.

    Good.

  4. #4
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    I like the subject but hate the classes. Too much time spent on memorization of facts.
    I was kinda surprised, my transfer agreement with UC Davis for Comp Sci didn't require chem but the Comp Eng does.

    While it doesn't directly relate to programming, chem does give you exposure to lab work and research work, how to write up an experiment, follow it, record the data, etc.

    Besides theres plenty of classes other majors have to take that don't directly relate. Such as a Chemical Engineer having to take a programming course. They aren't really taking the class to learn how to program but to gain the skills you need to program (such has logic and things like that)

  5. #5
    Slave MadCow257's Avatar
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    The only reason I'm taking it is because Waterloo's admission thing says you should take chem to get in to comp sci there.....which is stupid, why do programmers need to know chem??
    That is bogus, I agree.
    If any science is required for programming, it should be physics not chemistry.

    and now I'm doing the grade 11 chem and not understanding any of it
    From what I've read from of my dad's college chemistry book I agree. Even for a college level book, it's abnormally dry and hard to understand. Compared to that text the biology book seemed like a fun read.

  6. #6
    Guest Sebastiani's Avatar
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    A lot of it's just the way the material is presented, too. After all, chemistry is really just a specialization of physics, but the methods that are used to teach the two is so different. I personally hate the way biology is usually taught even though I love chemistry, which is a big part of biology. If I had an alternative to the usual coursework that might not be the case, though.
    Code:
    #include <cmath>
    #include <complex>
    bool euler_flip(bool value)
    {
        return std::pow
        (
            std::complex<float>(std::exp(1.0)), 
            std::complex<float>(0, 1) 
            * std::complex<float>(std::atan(1.0)
            *(1 << (value + 2)))
        ).real() < 0;
    }

  7. #7
    and the Hat of Clumsiness GanglyLamb's Avatar
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    Next year i will get ethics as one of my classes .. im also following an it course...

    I think the main reason for them to put these classes into the course is just to see wether you can learn something... ( at least thats how they do it here ).

    With us in first year 50% of all students can go on to the second year. And most of them flunk only on the not-it-related subjects...

    Imo itīs just to get students that are willing to learn and that are capable of learning anything...

    Greets,

    Ganglylamb.

  8. #8
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    That is bogus, I agree.
    If any science is required for programming, it should be physics not chemistry.
    yeah i mean it's so stupid that they're trying to produce well-rounded students and not just pop out programmers like a factory

  9. #9
    former member Brain Cell's Avatar
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    Look at the bright side , you only hate one class. I hate both chemistry and physics.













    oh and i hate math , too.
    Last edited by Brain Cell; 01-23-2005 at 11:00 AM.
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  10. #10
    Widdle Coding Peon Aerie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MadCow257
    That is bogus, I agree.
    If any science is required for programming, it should be physics not chemistry.
    I'm planning on double majoring in physics and programming.
    I live in a giant bucket.

  11. #11
    Toaster Zach L.'s Avatar
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    I'm not a huge fan of aqueous chem classes. I much prefer the materials science approach. I'm not a huge fan of biology, though.
    The word rap as it applies to music is the result of a peculiar phonological rule which has stripped the word of its initial voiceless velar stop.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Govtcheez
    yeah i mean it's so stupid that they're trying to produce well-rounded students and not just pop out programmers like a factory
    Yeah, get used to taking classes that seem pointless. Seriously. Oh, and despite all of the kicking and screaming that you'll do (that I did too) through the process you will learn some things, and it proves that you can work (which is the biggest benefit from a degree, it proves you are disciplined).

    edit:
    and I hated chemistry and sucked at it.
    Last edited by Darkness; 01-23-2005 at 12:07 PM.
    See you in 13

  13. #13
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    I prefer Physics, but chem wasn't that bad. At my school we're required to take a science sequence (I took phys 1&2) and one other science course, so I chose chem - got a B with minimal effort, and I actually had a pretty good professor so I learned a lot as well.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  14. #14
    Bob Dole for '08 B0bDole's Avatar
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    >I prefer Physics, but chem wasn't that bad. At my school we're required to take a science sequence (I took phys 1&2) and one other science course, so I chose chem - got a B with minimal effort, and I actually had a pretty good professor so I learned a lot as well.

    my school is a pretty big pre-med school, and everyone says chem & bio are impossible here. I personally have to take Calculus 1-5, Physics 1-4, and 2 other sciences, so either chem 1-2, bio 1-2, or chem 1 and bio 1
    Hmm

  15. #15
    Software Developer jverkoey's Avatar
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    Well, I might not hate chem so much if I didn't have to learn the beginnings of it online. Meh, usually I'm a good self-teacher, but chem is just something that does not want to click that easily, maybe it's because I can't do like in programming where if I want to learn something, I look it up, make a program to test it, and bam, I've learned that code and have code to look back on any time I need it.....

    Whereas chem if I don't understand something, I'm screwed cuz I have no teacher so I have to hope one of my friends who's taken the class already remembers the stuff I don't get so that I can ask them

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