14-12-2004 02:05									#1
	How good are you at mathemathics? Put an end to popups!

I think we can all agree that mathemathics is essential. If you want to be really good at what you do, you have to have a good grasp of mathemathics, even your area of expertize is economics or history.

If you are, say, a painter, you don't strictly need mathemathics for your work, but you'll need to know how to invest the money when you become rich, and it will be helpful then


So, my question to the general public:

1. What is the highest level of mathemathics you have so far studied?

2. How well have you grasped what you were taught?

3. Are you going to learn more?

	14-12-2004 02:08									#2
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quote: How good are you at mathemathics?

Better than you.

	14-12-2004 02:10									#3
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Not good enough, sadly.

I've had Calc, Algebra, and differential equations. Maybe I'll take numeric analysis, if I am bored, or something.

	14-12-2004 02:12									#4
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Sorry for not mentioning mine yet, but I'm not sure about English translations at all.

1. Calculus(?) and Linear Algebra(?)
2. Mediocre
3. Yes. I both have to and want to.

	14-12-2004 02:12									#5
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Physics/Maths at university. I was doing just fine until I started the third year on General Relativity and Dynamical Systems and Chaos. I tended to wipe them from my memory because it actually required more effort than I was willing to apply to beer and women.

I dropped GR and did Cosmology because it meant I could coast again.

	14-12-2004 02:15									#6
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OK, after plenty of study. I have forgotten everything higher than algebra at this point.

	14-12-2004 02:17									#7
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Is there anything below algebra?

	14-12-2004 02:18									#8
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define "algebra"

	14-12-2004 02:20									#9
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1. Partial differential equations. (I've also taken some loopy discrete math type courses, and maybe those are higher level, but I hated PDE's much more.)
2. Good enough to pass.
3. Depends. If researching automatic theorem provers counts as math, then yes. Otherwise, probably not.

	14-12-2004 02:23									#10
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PDEs... I actually use PDEs at work, so I'm not too bad at it. I always have to look up geometry, but that was always memorizing crap anyway. I have a hard time with matricies, but can still perform linear algebra, just not like that.

Calc is pretty basic by now.

	14-12-2004 02:29									#11
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Anyhow, to answer the questions seriously:

I've taken about 4 courses in analysis (real, complex and on metric spaces in general)

4 in modern algebra (theory of rings, groups, fields)

2 in differential equations (1 ordinary, 1 partial)

1 in differential geometry

2 in modern geometry/topology

It's difficult to say which of these involved the "highest" level of mathematical knowledge. They are all in different branches. All rely on lower math understanding (set theory, calculus etc.)

I grasped it well enough to pass and I remember it as well as could be expected.

I am very likely going to learn more.

	14-12-2004 02:31									#12
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I plan on learning more

I understood it pretty well at the time, and still have some understanding now

I haven't taken as much as KH, but have taken a similiar scope (less modern algebra though)

Jon Miller

	14-12-2004 02:36									#13
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<--- Acting Major. Math is of no use to me (especially considering I will be too poor to need to count very high)

	14-12-2004 02:42									#14
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1. High school. This is Finland, though, so it's not saying much.
2. I'm not really sure what do you mean by that... there weren't any things I couldn't understand, altough I sometimes had to spend extra sessions of few hours at home reading and practicing (in addition to the normal homework, was that abnormal?) to truly get a hang of all things talked about in the books.
3. In school? I doubt it.

	14-12-2004 02:46									#15
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quote: Is there anything below algebra?

Basic arithmetics (algebra with no letters, only numbers).

	14-12-2004 02:48									#16
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If i had chosen the hardware road i might have found three dimensional integrals usefull, but since i chose the software road it's primarily boolean algebra i have found usefull.

If i should dig into mathematics one more time, then it would be for fun. I have the crazy idea that math was fun, but i also have the crazy idea the my military experiences was fun. I think that as years go by, memory make tricks

	14-12-2004 02:50									#17
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel define "algebra"

Math up until Newton and Liebnitz screwed it all up.

	14-12-2004 02:57									#18
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Nobody knew algebra when Newton and Leibniz were alive...

	14-12-2004 02:58									#19
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Mathematics is great, amazes me. I also see maths as the purest form of mental challenge.

I have never been too good at geometry, but am good at algebra/related stuff. I definitely want to study the number theory some more, topology sounds very fun but seems very unsuitable for me, and the probability/game theory is also fascinating. My single favorite type of equations would have to be logarithmic equations, because of their elegane and practical usefulness .

	14-12-2004 02:59									#20
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I successfully avoided Math after High School (so, Calc is as far as I got, which I hated, but got a "B" in, IIRC).

I was pretty good at Math until sophomore year of HS. I had been in the "advanced" track (regular - advanced - honors), but that year moved up to honors. The teacher was one of those guys who is absolutely brilliant and finds the subject matter really easy, and furthermore cannot figure out why everyone else doesn't find it easy too. Blah. He also graded with a heavy curve, so although I was totally lost and deserved a C or C-, I got a B. Screw that, says I, and demoted myself back to "advanced."

But by that point I'd lost interest anyway. I liked algebra. Geometry... eh, not so much. And proofs just killed me. Hated 'em. Once I started disliking math, it was all over.

-Arrian

	14-12-2004 03:05									#21
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quote: I successfully avoided Math after High School (so, Calc is as far as I got, which I hated, but got a "B" in, IIRC).

One of the important issues in the educational system here... calculus was previously taught in high schools, but now it is not. As a result, high school graduates who then study maths or physics in uni are often in for a surprise - also, formulae that include calculus elements in physics are replaced, for highschools, with alternatives.

quote: Once I started disliking math, it was all over.

Yeah, that's it unfortunately, you actually need to enjoy it to study advanced math.

	14-12-2004 03:18									#22
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I did great at Geometry and algebra, but stunk up the place in calculus.

My lack of math abilities didn't hamper my college studies or my career at all.

	14-12-2004 03:23									#23
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Oh, and I know a bit of group theory, of course. It's a must in Chemistry.

	14-12-2004 03:28									#24
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I was always real strong in algebra, geometry ranges but hit my personal wall in Calculus and Differential Equations. My strengths were in statistical analysis and test design.

Of course, that was 30 years ago. My 16 year-old regularly brings home physics and math problems that I no longer can do without re-learning.

IRL, personal budgeting and retirement planning is what's relevant for me. If I ever need "real" math done, my company has dozens of engineers for that...

	14-12-2004 03:53									#25
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I know all that you need to know for practical usage, and that's not much.

	14-12-2004 03:54									#26
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I went past adv calc in college

	14-12-2004 03:59									#27
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I know how to add, deduct, multiply and divide. That's about it I guess.
Everything I learned at high school I've forgotten 100%, just like I've forgotten just about everything about physics, chemistry... even my german and french is starting to fade away from my brain.

	14-12-2004 04:04									#28
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I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. Also there's Excel

	14-12-2004 04:13									#29
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I went as far as PDEs and quite far in linear algebra (particularly 3D stuff).

I also took a couple Discrete Mathematics courses.

	14-12-2004 04:20									#30
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quote: Originally posted by Asher I went as far as PDEs and quite far in linear algebra (particularly 3D stuff). I also took a couple Discrete Mathematics courses.