Then the answer is "it depends". You can program at a level with a cognitive demand on par with Algebra (however defined), and you can program at the level of Complex Analysis. There's no one-to-one map between the two.
Just like math, you can go as deep into a programming language or concept as your mind will carry you so there's no equivalence relation.
Yes, but I'm also skeptical of the idea that some math subjects are cognitively more intense than others.
The "cognitive load" or whatever is really just a function of how much you've practiced and internalized that area of math. Calculus builds on algebra, sure, but once you've internalized algebra you don't have to "think real hard about algebra" _while_ you "think real hard about calculus."
Running a 10k for the first time is not the same as running your first 5k twice.
As someone who studied math as an undergrad, I completely agree. As far as I can remember, Learning the Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory was no more difficult to me than learning the Mean Value Theorem.
But I guess my point is that programming at an "Algebra" level means you have very little knowledge the language, while programming at a "Calculus" level means that you have much more knowledge.
> bog standard, journeymen, CRUD programming
What do you think are the cognitive demands of that task, however defined?