---
title: 'Bad at MATH? Can you be a Software Developer?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=r2X_tuNzYrg'
video_id: 'r2X_tuNzYrg'
date: 2026-08-02
duration_sec: 298
---

# Bad at MATH? Can you be a Software Developer?

> Source: [Bad at MATH? Can you be a Software Developer?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=r2X_tuNzYrg)

## Summary

The video addresses the common concern of whether being bad at math prevents someone from becoming a software developer. It explains that most programming, especially web development, relies on CRUD operations and logical thinking rather than advanced mathematics, though certain fields like data science or machine learning do require more math. The speaker emphasizes that problem-solving, logical reasoning, and communication skills are more critical for success in software development.

### Key Points

- **Math requirement depends on the field** [00:00] — Whether you need to be good at math to start programming depends on the area. Developing websites or web applications generally doesn't require complicated math; the only math needed is around calculating database sizes and similar basic operations.
- **Specialized fields need more math** [00:38] — If you work in crypto, big data analytics, or machine learning, a stronger math background is necessary. However, you can be selective about roles and avoid those that require advanced math.
- **Most programming is CRUD** [01:06] — A large portion of programming involves CRUD operations: Create, Read, Update, Delete. For example, an e-commerce site creates products, reads them for users, updates descriptions, and deletes old items. CRUD applications don't require advanced math.
- **Math level needed is high school algebra** [02:30] — Unless you're getting into data science, the math required is typically no more than high school algebra. Calculating database sizes involves simple arithmetic based on row sizes and expected records.
- **Key skills: problem solving and logical thinking** [03:10] — Being good at coming up with solutions to problems and thinking logically is essential. This is especially important when working on existing production code, where you need to understand the order of operations.
- **Communication is crucial** [03:38] — Programming involves a lot of communication before and after coding. You need to talk to product managers, write up stories in enough detail, and ensure that when developers come to work on them, they know what to do.
- **Documentation is often forgotten** [04:07] — Writing documentation is a key task that everyone seems to forget. This includes updating technical documentation, noting changes, and explaining how things work, which is important for future reference.

### Conclusion

In summary, being bad at math does not prevent you from becoming a software developer, as most programming relies on CRUD operations and logical thinking rather than advanced mathematics. However, certain specialized fields like data science do require more math. Focus on developing problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills to succeed.

## Transcript

a lot is whether you need to be good at intimidating to start off with if you at maths to be good at programming well
like many things, it depends. The great work in without needing complicated developing websites or web applications,
of developing a good application is not lot of complicated maths. The only maths development is around calculating the
lot less clear-cut and it really depends skills is a must. If you're working in crypto, big data analytics, machine
That doesn't mean you need to completely quite selective on what roles you take application, it's going to need quite a
matter too much. There are so many manual doing is taking those manual processes using things like emails and
much better in a dedicated application. I programming is developing what we call CRUD Read, Update and Delete. A CRUD
main purpose is around creating, reading, think about it. For example if you're which is creating it. Users visiting the
read them and then at some point you need to update the description of the old product and add a new one. Even when
following the CRUD model. There are so following a CRUD model when you think CRUD applications don't require a lot
the user, storing it in a database, then delete it. Even though being good at especially one in one of the traditional
candidates if you're not good at maths. than high school algebra, unless you're getting into data science. Some of the
calculating the size that a database is row and how many records you are expecting you're expecting from the users. If
don't need to worry. Maths isn't needed There are however a few skills you do problem solving and thinking logically
at coming up with solutions to problems they can be completed. This is especially that's already in production. Not only do
what order they need to go in, if you is communication. Yes, programming is of communication that happens before and
which means talking to product managers, needs to be written up in enough detail done. Once the story is written up you
they come to work on it they know what the key things you need to do is to add months time when you haven't got a clue
written and it's been code reviewed and task that everyone seems to forget, at writing documentation. This could include
it's going to be updating technical been changed as well as any new is really important, especially when it
need to look and how something works. numbers that are critical to a computer. in my next video about binary numbers
bell so you don't miss out. Thanks for video.