A computer science student can write good mathematics – a comparison of mathematics and computer programs
(This post is taken from my previous webpage)
Table: A comparison of writing mathematics and programs
| Programs | Mathematics | |
|---|---|---|
| Variable definition | Use after definition | Use after definition, or use with immediate explanation |
| Variable name | Multiple characters, straightforward meaning for easy debugging | Single character with different fonts and cases, uniform styles for easy reading |
| Variable semantics | Expressing program logic, can be simple types or objects | As simple as possible, e.g. real number, vector, set, ... |
| Functions/Equations | Flow of clauses, such as if, for, and functions | Composition of simple operations, such as min, max, sum, and product |
| Grammar Check | Compiler | Self |
| Emphasis | Efficiency and clearness | Clearness |