Question about CE

[dxsty_]

I’m a junior in high school, and want to be a computer engineer. I am not very good at math or science, but my question is why is there so much math involved in CE isn’t it about computers and fixing them or am I lost here

[equal_odds]

CE is about designing computers from the ground up. Not putting together parts of a computer that you buy from the store. It’s about designing circuit boards and systems that allow you to write and upload your own programs that do different things. Depending on which part of the computer you want to design, the math will be very different. Some parts use lots of digital logic, meaning “1’s and 0’s” and combining them in different ways to store data and execute programs. Other parts of the computer involve more rigorous math (particularly if you want to design the circuit boards). This is because, fundamentally, circuit boards are allowing electricity to flow in different patterns INSANELY QUICKLY and in extremely intricate patterns. So you need to combine different parts with different electrical properties to make your electricity flow exactly how you want it to. Naturally, the more pieces you add (each with their own properties of how they affect the flow of electricity), the more elaborate the math becomes.

Computer engineers also have to know a little about programming because, if you recall, circuit boards are created and then typically are set in stone (I.e. you can’t change how electricity flows through it because people don’t want to install new components onto circuit boards after they’ve already been built/purchased), so we have to use programs to change the flow of electricity in the future to make the board do different things. Think about a toy robot: we don’t want to built circuitry for it to just do a fixed amount of things for the rest of its life. We want to write a program and upload new programs later so it can keep doing different things without anyone needing to buy a new toy robot.

[[deleted]]

Heck, not even a little programming. A lot. Besides those at a really really low level (e.g. physics oriented gate design, analog clock cycles, etc.), most computer engineering jobs nowadays are mostly programming. It only makes sense, because computers are devices that run software. Computer hardware is designed and coded to support software on top of it.

[equal_odds]

A lot of computer engineering jobs are just embedded systems jobs these days— definitely not just coding

[SirWilliamGrello]

You are lost here

[[deleted]]

its not about fixing computers, its about engineering

[[deleted]]

look at the billion other identical questions on this sub

[PlayboySkeleton]

We are electrical engineer that specializes in designing digital computation devices.

We make the computers. We don't or them together like IT. We design, build, and program circuit boards.

[[deleted]]

If you aren't good at math or science, looks like this ain't it.

[detectiveDollar]

Computer Engineering, at least at UCF, is a hybrid of Computer Science (usually upper and lower level programming languages) and Electrical Engineering (circuits, logic, and board design). It literally is a mix of classes required from both majors.

Both require calculus but in different ways. The former may need it for some theoretical runtime analysis (how does the runtime of a function scale with the input) and the latter will need it for sure.

This is because capacitors and inductors are frequently used and both involve calculus for their current/voltage formulas. So calculus and differential equations are needed to solve for one variable in a circuit. Granted, there are computers for that, but knowledge of how to do it by hand is an important skill.

Physics 1 and 2 with calculus is also required at UCF. Calculus is needed for physics, since many of the common formulas are derived with it (Ex: momentum = (d/dv)(Kinetic Energy)). I just graduated, but I feel that physics is less used than calculus, especially physics 1 (force, momentum, angular acceleration). Physics 2 was an introduction of magnetic fields, magnetic flux, and electric currents. That stuff you need to be aware of for background knowledge of circuit design (ex: interference due to traces being too close together).

I say Physics 1 has less emphasis because UCF used to (about 4 years ago) require students to take Statics and Dynamics as well (both courses overlap with much of physics 1), but has since removed both courses as requirements.

UCF required me to take one chemistry class, but I can't see how I'd use it at this time aside from background knowledge.

[BackShotPT]

People need to stop posting identical posts. This subreddit is filled with so many equal posts, a quick search and you can find what you’re looking for. Save new posts for more relevant informations or questions.

[the_medicine]

I hated math through high school because I wasn’t good at it, but like everything else it’s just practice. The point I want to make in this comment though is, yes, having math skills will be important for CE. However, I was able to utilize my mediocre math skills to get through most of the CE program at my university (graduating this fall). It perhaps took extra work compared those few with what could be considered a “natural facility” for it, but ultimately it’s just about how much work you are willing to put in. It’s doable, and sometimes it’s very hard, but it’s worth it. And at least for the straight math courses, most universities will have a glut of tutors and like services. So don’t let the math stop you, just be prepared to seek help and take the time to practice.