14-12-2004 04:28									#31
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Well, it is an 'extended minor' for me. That's all I study, software engineering and mathematics. of course certain amount of mathematics is mandatory in software engineering, but I'm going further than mandatory, and I don't really have another subjects so I say SE and mathematics, that's it, all my courses are those.

Am I good at it? I'm not exceptionally good at it, but good enough. How well have I grasped.. I'd say pretty well. Not 100%, but let's say.. 90%. And of that 90% I still remember 40% . But I can get it back by just goign threw few pages and it all coems back to me. I just can't remember the rules of different craps, but if say for example mathematicians handbook is allowed material, then I have no problemo.

	14-12-2004 04:49									#32
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The foundations: Vector Cal, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Discrete Math.

As far as real math (Linear Algebra and Discrete Math sorta straddle this boundary) goes:

Real, Complex, and Tensor Analysis, Algebra (groups primarily, rings to a lesser extent), Topology, and Differential Geometry.

Most of it's a haze. Particularly real analysis.

And yeah, I certainly plan on learning more.

	14-12-2004 05:04									#33
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My last formal qualification in mathematics was GCSE In reality I know more than that, but I do feel it is one of my academic weaknesses in terms of my scientific background...

	14-12-2004 05:06									#34
	Re: How good are you at mathemathics? Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by VetLegion 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

But a artist who works for a commune, caring not about material things but his art, has little use for mathematics.

Yes, maths is massively important for many points in life, and basic maths is essential for everybody, but anything beyond the level of rudimentary maths is needed only by those who use it. And as talking to my maths students and tutors at university I become acutely aware of, anyone expecting to use degree level maths in a non-specifically maths based career will be disappointed. Thus if you mean maths at some level is essential, then I'd agree, however if you have to have high level maths to be really good at anything, I'd strongly disagree.

quote: Originally posted by VetLegion 1. What is the highest level of mathemathics you have so far studied?

Depends what you consider higher. My degree is half maths, and is the highest I have any formal qualifications in, but I did higher level maths a couple of years ago at masterclasses for gifted maths students and the like, plus stuff I've learned from my brother.

quote: Originally posted by VetLegion 2. How well have you grasped what you were taught?

Pretty well. Some of the conceptual stuff I could grasp but got lost on the maths, but that was working a few years ahead of where I am. Pretty much everything in my course I've grasped well.

quote: Originally posted by VetLegion 3. Are you going to learn more?

Yep, doing economics you can't get away from it, and I'm taking at least 2, if not all 3 of the maths options for the next 2 years, as well as it being included a lot in my normal econ options.

	14-12-2004 05:29									#35
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I studied intro Calc, which I've now all but forgotten. Hasn't hurt me one bit, and I can't imagine I'll ever need to know more math than I currently do. Certainly isn't going to hurt me career wise/financially.

	14-12-2004 05:34									#36
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Math is probably the most over-rated subject.

	14-12-2004 05:37									#37
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Philosophy is.

	14-12-2004 05:37									#38
	Re: How good are you at mathemathics? Increase Your PM Length

College freshman and probable math major checking in.

1) Currently studying multivariable calculus. Have previously studied single-variable calculus and taken a full-year course in combinatorics (that's basically counting large numbers of things), in addition to the customary algebra I/algebra II/geometry.
2) Fairly well (A- for the term).
3) Yes. Next year, I'm doing Intro to Analysis I/II, Linear Algebra, and Geometry. The Intro to Analysis course is the only thing that's certain right now; what I take depends on what gets offered and in which terms (and who teaches it).

	14-12-2004 06:11									#39
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quote: Originally posted by Trajanus I know how to add, deduct, multiply and divide. That's about it I guess.

With or without a calculator?

	14-12-2004 06:13									#40
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Well I managed to actually differentiate something the other night, so I can't have completely lost it

	14-12-2004 06:18									#41
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I got 100% on each of the last two maths tests I took, although they're weren't much, just there to judge aptitude, or something.

	14-12-2004 08:07									#42
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quote: Originally posted by Dauphin Is there anything below algebra?

Arithematic. Like adding and subtracting integers.

	14-12-2004 08:25									#43
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quote: Originally posted by -Jrabbit 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...

No mathematicians think that engineers do any real math...
Most engineers barely take any math besides some first year University calc like any economist or even manager, and then maybe a couple extra numerical methods...


I'm doing my Master's in math now, Algebraic Graph Theory to be specific, so did a bit of everything (mostly algebra, and discrete math, some analysis (maybe 4-5 courses), barely any topology or number theory).

I take almost only Algebra and Discrete Math now.

This semester took :
-Algebra 1 (masters level course, just goes to show, the name doesnt mean much, we did more groups, more ring, modules, tensors, etc)
-Combinatorial Enumeration (more advanced counting techniques...)
-Design Theory

Next semester taking
-Comb. Optimization
-Graph Theory
-Graph Automorphisms, as a reading course

The course I like best are usually the algebra ones.
The course I took I understood least was a diff. geometry one.
I guess its a mixture of not liking it, and not putting close to enough effort in it, didnt understand the start, and everything else depended on that, was lost and bored, and did horribly

	14-12-2004 08:40									#44
	Re: Re: How good are you at mathemathics? Get a bigger avatar today!

quote: Originally posted by Vlad Antlerkov College freshman and probable math major checking in. 1) Currently studying multivariable calculus. Have previously studied single-variable calculus and taken a full-year course in combinatorics (that's basically counting large numbers of things), in addition to the customary algebra I/algebra II/geometry. 2) Fairly well (A- for the term). 3) Yes. Next year, I'm doing Intro to Analysis I/II, Linear Algebra, and Geometry. The Intro to Analysis course is the only thing that's certain right now; what I take depends on what gets offered and in which terms (and who teaches it).

Good luck!
Analysis will be considered your first "real math" course.
Meaning you will get a glimpse of what mathematicians really do (no they do not calculate big multiplications, how often I here that one...).

	14-12-2004 08:53									#45
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They actually do something?

	14-12-2004 08:56									#46
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quote: Originally posted by Lul Thyme No mathematicians think that engineers do any real math... Most engineers barely take any math besides some first year University calc like any economist or even manager, and then maybe a couple extra numerical methods...

I'm not sure about the US, but I know some of the Engineer's I talk to do at least 2/3 of their degree as maths, and most economists would be between 1/3 and 2/3 maths, depending on which options you'd choose. The Cambridge engineering course does more maths than the maths degree at my local uni, and requires maths (and recommends further maths) A levels, which go beyond US College first year calc before you've even got to uni.

Indeed, my brother's PhD is in maths, but is actually done with the engineering department in part, and paid for by Rolls-Royce. Any engineering degree worth it's salt will include some 'real' maths, as do all the decent Economics degrees over here.

	14-12-2004 09:00									#47
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Maybe there's just some confusion.

Engineering is an applied math. It doesn't make much sense for them to spend 2/3 of their courses doing pure math.

I would say 90% of their courses are applied math (at least in Canada...my brother, bf, dad, and a bunch of my friends are or were taking Engineering in Canada).

Computer Science is about 50% applied, 50% pure.

	14-12-2004 09:37									#48
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1. General topology, differential real analysis, and a little bit of modern algebra and geometry.
2. Very well
3. Yes. A lot more.

quote: 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.

Ooh! I want to be you in a couple years! Except minus the differential equations and with a stronger understanding of everything!

Math is fun! Especially things involving the Axiom of Choice (I just was doing a homework problem involving ultrafilters (I had to show there was a 1-1 correspondence between the elements of teh Stone-Cech compactification of a discrete space and the set of ultrafilters over the space) and I had to show there was a unique ultrafilter with a certain property. What was interesting was that as soon as you can show there is at least one such ultrafilter (using the axiom of choice), you can completely specify what the elements of the unique ultrafilter are, but if you don't know one exists, you can't figure out what it is (well you can but the process of doing so is practically equivalent to proving that one exists).

	14-12-2004 09:57									#49
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Mathematics (beyond the basic you learn in elementary school) is worthless.

I took all the way up to calculus. While I found it interesting, and I aced all my classes, it didn't seem to have much relevance to real life (unless I went into a mathematics related field of work)

	14-12-2004 09:59									#50
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1. Calc II
2. Not at all.
3. **** no.

	14-12-2004 15:47									#51
	Re: How good are you at mathemathics? Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

1. What is the highest level of mathemathics you have so far studied?
GCSE. Pretty basic stuff really, most of the UK have probably scraped through this exam (since it replaced CSE/O-levels of course) which I suppose makes it more or less essential now - in the sense that very few employers will even interview if you don't have it.


2. How well have you grasped what you were taught?
Not well. Learnt it off by heart for the exam, and that was about it. Having been classed by staff and fellow students as an 'arts student' from the age of about 12, no one seemed to care I was totally inept at maths and I was pretty much encouraged not to bother - which I regret.


3. Are you going to learn more?
Not officially; obviously forms no part whatsoever of an English degree. However, I keep trying to maintain some level of competency through occassionally looking at the stuff economics students here are given to do. It's hardly advanced, as economics is taught as part of 'social and environmental studies' so basically all they need is a vague grounding in algebra-type-stuff and reminders of what numbers are...but its better than nothing I suppose.

Always wished maths was something I was actually good at. Studying an arts subject is pretty useless - anyone with a reasonable degree of intelligence can list art/literature etc as one of their hobbies and discuss it without having an official qualification. My degree won't be worth the paper it's written on, and shall certainly not be respected; a science subject would give me kudos and superiority...life is most unfair

	14-12-2004 16:25									#52
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I got through multivariable calculus & diferential equations by the skin of my teeth. I could always do higher math but unlike some people I really had to study and do my home work if I wanted to do well. Algebra, Geometry, and single variable calculus were easy to me but multivariable was an ass kicker.

	14-12-2004 16:36									#53
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quote: Always wished maths was something I was actually good at. Studying an arts subject is pretty useless - anyone with a reasonable degree of intelligence can list art/literature etc as one of their hobbies and discuss it without having an official qualification. My degree won't be worth the paper it's written on, and shall certainly not be respected; a science subject would give me kudos and superiority...life is most unfair

You really believe that? My life trying to build a career in the sciences has been an uphill struggle and even after over half a decade there is no light at the end of the tunnel and I am looking at doing something else. It's been responsible in part for my depression and anxiety and will send me back there at this rate...

	14-12-2004 17:32									#54
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Six months unemployed with microbiology degree

	14-12-2004 17:40									#55
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A level Maths and Further Maths

There were maths courses for my physics degree but I didn't go to any of the lectures for them, despite that I passed all but the 4th and final one.

I found it easy but boring, hence not bothering attending the lectures.

	14-12-2004 18:28									#56
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Gave maths up at 16.

Stopped paying attention in maths lessons at 14.

Have never found any use for anything I learned in maths lessons after the age of 13.

	14-12-2004 18:52									#57
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You never sit around and ask questions like, what would happen to the length of the day if I made the earth a little bit bigger?

	14-12-2004 18:58									#58
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No. I sit around and ask questions like "Why did they stop making Texan chocolate bars?".

	14-12-2004 19:20									#59
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quote: Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp "Why did they stop making Texan chocolate bars?".

Because of he miner's strike in 1984. Some problem with the strike upsetting production at the Nestle plant where they were made (in Halifax IIRC).

	14-12-2004 19:24									#60
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Blimey. Is that what you learn in maths lessons?