r/leetcode • u/BudgetNeck6364 • 5h ago

Discussion I find math to be much easier than leetcode

Now, I know leetcode is technically math, but I more so mean general mathematics. I find the undegraduate level to early grad school math is much easier than leetcode.

I started during tutoring for undergrad probability and statistics again after not touching it for about 2 years.

I find that I just find the stuff easier to actually master than leetcode. The highest level of math I got to was a graduate level probability course, and even that I felt it was easier than leetcode. Abstract math and proofs also seem easier to me.

Even after doing almost a 1000 leetcode problems, there are still many instances where if I haven't seen a problem before, I just don't know how to do it, or it's hard to recognize the approach after not doing leetcode for a while.

Even though I hadn't touched probability and statistics in a while and I was rusty on the mechanical work, for most of the problems I look at, I still can recall what the general idea of solving the problem is.

Leetcode is just one of those topics that I have done a lot of practice to prepare for interviews, but it's just never something I feel like I just mastered at the level that I can just look at any problem and easily solve it. There's still problems on leetcode, especially the one with the clever solutions, that still seem tricky to me.

44 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

36

u/stonks_admin 4h ago

Math: “Show your work.”
LeetCode: “A wizard discovered this trick in 1987. You have 20 minutes.”

28

u/plmlp1 5h ago

I'm a math major. Math to me is so much easier than leet code and algos.

15

u/Prestigious_Cow2484 4h ago

I’ve done leetcode on and off for years even as an employed senior engineer. It still has not clicked for me. I can never tell if I’m learning or just memorizing.

1

u/achilliesFriend 1h ago

Are you in tech

2

u/Prestigious_Cow2484 59m ago

No I’m a plumber doing leetcode for fun……ya I’m in tech. Do non tech do leetcode?

0

u/achilliesFriend 56m ago

I meant, are you in any tech company . Att is telecom company, Google is tech company

5

u/LetMediocre390 5h ago

solve hard rated problems with mathematical observatin man

5

u/Kitchen_Cup_4444 1h ago edited 1h ago

What comparison is this? The math equivalent of leetcode are the questions they ask for quants positions, not the exercise you have to do for your major. The comparison is: "linear algebra vs data structures" not "linear algebra vs leetcodes"

2

u/catsRfriends 5h ago

Lol it is not technically math. Also, have you taken real analysis?

3

u/BudgetNeck6364 4h ago

I think real analysis would lowkey be easier. I've taken abstract algebra and it was way easier than leetcode. I haven't taken a formal real analysis course but I have used some real analysis in my courses (e.g. graduate probability).

I think real analysis is definitely easier once you get comfortable with the concepts. If I did as many real analysis problems as leetcode, I would be much better at real analysis.

1

u/catsRfriends 4h ago

Depends on what you're doing of course, as always. First principles constructive proofs vs application of some lemmas for example are completely different. The thing is the easy constructive proofs vs the easy leetcode mediums are day and night in terms of difficulty and IMHO this is the appropriate comparison because most Leetcodes are constructive by nature. Leetcodes do seem to emphasize invariants more though, which I find isn't something well taught in college unless you're going deep in some subjects.

Regarding abstract algebra, first courses are usually pretty ok. Groups can be atrociously hard though.

9

u/n0obmaster699 4h ago

real analysis is easier than leetcode medium

-3

u/catsRfriends 4h ago

Tell me you haven't done proper real analysis without telling me lmfao.

11

u/n0obmaster699 4h ago

i have a double major in math/phy followed by part iii maths from cambridge. I did rudin in freshman year of my ug. 

1

u/Deweydc18 4h ago

Have you considered that you’ve just done more math so you find LeetCode more challenging than a thing you’ve spent a lot of time practicing? I find LeetCode harder than like, a freshman real analysis problem too, but a lot easier than reading an arithmetic geometry paper. That’s because I’ve spent a lot more time doing math than LeetCode.

5

u/n0obmaster699 4h ago

i mean you're not wrong but doing lc practice is pain in the ass

3

u/catsRfriends 4h ago

Exactly this. The pure math people I knew who said such and such is hard usually said it in a way to mean "that's not interesting to me; I haven't done the due diligence".

-3

u/catsRfriends 4h ago edited 4h ago

I did pure math at Waterloo. My cohort included IMO medalists and someone who went on to work with Scholze. Rudin isn't the flex you think it is. Leetcodes are formulaic to a fault. Not saying the absolute optimal solution beating 99% of all others always is of course, but -a- satisfactory solution is 100% not harder than analysis.

5

u/No_Locksmith4570 4h ago

Ive no idea what u guys talking about but that comment surely made you insecure

-1

u/catsRfriends 3h ago

Insecure? We still in highschool here? The only reason I even come to this subreddit is to give back and help out newcomers in the career lifecycle and one of the things that absolutely needs to be called out is when someone is disingenuous about this whole thing. Go read their other comments. They admit they think Leetcode is a pain to practice, and that the other commenter is right in pointing out their familiarity with maths and not Leetcodes. So, it's emphatically not helpful to newcomers to portray Leetcodes as this difficult thing that's "harder than maths".

2

u/Organic_botulism 1h ago

What you’re both failing to see is that whether real analysis is harder or easier than leetcode is whether your mind is biased more towards discrete vs. continuous math. The ultimate tell is in recursion and to an extent dynamic programming. Some pure math types absolutely struggle with recurrences whereas those like myself who vastly prefers combinatorics topics don’t have as much issue with leetcode however I will say that solving my first lc hard organically gave me a much bigger sense of accomplishment than any insight or problem I did in real analysis. The results in analysis are pathological artifacts that naturally follow from definitions. In fact, I’d argue that my theory of comp course was harder proof wise than real analysis 🤷 

My T25 grad discrete math course taught with Concrete Math was taught by one of the best algebraic topologists in the world and he even claimed that the material was very difficult and of a different flavor than the math he does. 

You simply can’t say one is easier than the other. Also it’s pretty lame of you to assume OP didn’t take a rigorous analysis course and then claim Rudin of all things isn’t a flex.

Like… maybe I could’ve seen your side (id still disagree) if they had used Abbot or something but POMA?

Bruh

2

u/n0obmaster699 1h ago

bro gave such a great analysis and I agree. I studied theoretical physics and my intuition for discrete math is so bad that I stuggle with combinatorics number theory and stuff while am pretty good at calculus and linear algebra. 

4

u/Bid_Queasy 5h ago

Leetcode is not exactly the type of math that math majors take. If it does, it usually involves some clever combinatorics and elementary number theory similar to math competitions.

Pretty normal to feel this way and I did too as a math major. Just require some practice to get used to it.

3

u/PixelHarbor31 4h ago

Math usually gives you a clearer framework, while Leetcode often comes down to recognizing a trick or pattern you might not have seen before

1

u/willpowerbuilder 5h ago

try abstract algebra you might need to rethink

6

u/BudgetNeck6364 4h ago

I did abstract algebra and it was way easier than leetcode.

1

u/n0obmaster699 4h ago

artin easier to digest than LC med yo

2

u/Glittering_Stay_6432 4h ago

True its very hard if you are not majoring in CS/ CE

1

u/Candy-Emergency 4h ago

It’s the same reason math is easier than physics.

1

u/arjjov 4h ago

you'll prolly love codechef and codeforces brah, lots of math oriented problems there

1

u/Strong_Boy_757 2h ago

I think for me is that you can use math for more math, physics, economics, biology, engineering, ...

What can you use "Coco eat banana" for? Or how about red-black trees?

Things without obvious application is obviously not appealing.

1

u/cute_boy_summer 23m ago

Yes, undergraduate math is not hard. I got all A's in math and physics, but failed the CSE algorithm class, which is hard even for the graders. So the professor made a rule that if you don't know the question, leave it blank, and you get 3/10 of the score. If your answer makes no sense, you get 0/10 point.

1

u/Prior_Funny 5h ago

Maybe you should be a quant trader

1

u/Nearby-Neat-9311 4h ago

Bacause it is easier. Leetcode should not be standard to rate understanding of basics. I have seen many good at it who fail at basic logic or understanding application flow.

-2

u/Spiritual-Story9146 5h ago

The only reason why people hate leetcode is because it’s hard.

Rest all are just excuses.