Is There a Math to Mutable Variables?

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Okay, weird question. Are mutable variables a form of calculus?

Here's my logic.
1. Mutable variables in programming can change.
2. Algebra variables seem to never change. (just transform, reduce, cancel, ect)
3. Calculus is the study of change.
4. A mutable programming variable cannot hold multiple things at the same time.
5. Since a mutable variable "changes" with respect to time, it is therefore calculus.

Is there any flaw to this thinking? Chances are I'm way off on something and could use a correcting.

I'm not a math genius (well, people say I am, but I'm not that advanced, just really advanced for my age) and there is a multivariable calculus. It's after calculus BC.

In calculus we find the "tangent line" to find the change in the slope occurring for a function at a point.

The "change" being measured is ...



This would not appear to have anything to do with "mutation of variables".

Is There a Math to Mutable Variables?

... No there isn't, sorry ...

Numbuh4:
I've never seen multivariable calculus. In college, I've only been up through Calc 2 and a proofs course. I'll have to check out some videos on multivar know that you've got me curious about that.

LoveNotHate:
The change for a slope is a change in Y with respect to the independent variable X for a function at a point.
So in a program with a mutable variable, you get something like this typically:

y = 1
y = 4

In a programming context, the independent variable would be t. (for time) And that's probably where my mental mapping from mutable variables to calc goes wrong. The independent variable isn't being accounted for with mutable variables so representing them with any kind of rate of change slope becomes impossible.

MrOddBall
It seems you're right which is kind of a shame. My own personal biases want to see math in everything. On a drive to my therapist, I was wishing to see algebra in the structure of my engine, geometry in the shape of my car body, calculus in the speed I was going to get there, and statistics in my likelihood of getting there on time.

And so I naturally wish I could see math in whatever future Java / Python / whatever job I get sometime down the road. But I also don't mind calling wishful thinking for what it is.

By "mutable variable", I assume you are referring to an object in a computer program that can be changed during the execution of the program. In contrast, an "immutable variable" would be either a constant or an object that could be set when created and then not changed at all.

I'm not sure why this would require any special mathematics.

Most likely mutable objects can be described by a Category. Look up Category theory.

ruveyn