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by vladislavp 3568 days ago
While I agree with some observations: a) most only use basic maths at their daily jobs)

b) math and computer science degrees are used as a filtering criteria, by recruiters hiring for actuary/stats/finance and programming jobs

I disagree with what appear to be a conjecture, and the subsequent conclusion:

  > Acceptance of the conjecture should have revolutionary 
  > educational implications . 
  > In particular, it undermines the legitimacy of requiring higher mathematics of all students. 
  > Such mathematics is actually needed by only a 
  > minute fraction of the workforce
Being able to abstract business-specific/domain specific problems into something that already has well-researched, validated and implement solution -- is critical, and gives a business an edge.

This is the type of capability (together with knowing a broad universe of solved topics), that the graduates with CS and Math degrees should bring in into the workforce.

I do agree with the author's implication, that there is a 'placebo-style' filtering that's going on by most of the recruiter.

And it is unfortunate, because it brings into Computer Science, especially, a huge number of people who have neither the passion, no life-long perseverance to be current in the subject.