toughest math course

Printable View

10-28-2003
axon

toughest math course

hey all, for those who finished all their math reqs, what in your opinion was the toughest math course?

So far I've taken, calculus 1, 2, and 3, differential equations and I'm currently taking linear Algebra, and that is very easy. The worst course for me was calc 1, but that was probably because I really didn't put too much effort into honors precalc in highschool during my senior year.

Next week I'm allready signing up for classes for Spring and I'm not sure what to take...here are my options:

Code:

Math 430--Formal Logic I (3 hrs) Math 435--Foundations of Number Theory (3 hrs) Math 436--Number Theory for Applications (3 hrs) MCS 421--Combinatorics (3 hrs) MCS 423--Graph Theory (3 hrs) MCS 471--Numerical Analysis (3 hrs)

any suggestions?
10-28-2003
Zach L.

Given those choices, I'd probably go for graph theory. Just a personal preference though.

Well, I've still got a good deal of math ahead of me, but Cal III is what I found most challenging so far.
10-28-2003
Xei

Re: toughest math course

Quote:

Originally posted by axon
hey all, for those who finished all their math reqs, what in your opinion was the toughest math course?

So far I've taken, calculus 1, 2, and 3, differential equations and I'm currently taking linear Algebra, and that is very easy. The worst course for me was calc 1, but that was probably because I really didn't put too much effort into honors precalc in highschool during my senior year.

Next week I'm allready signing up for classes for Spring and I'm not sure what to take...here are my options:

Code:

Math 430--Formal Logic I (3 hrs) Math 435--Foundations of Number Theory (3 hrs) Math 436--Number Theory for Applications (3 hrs) MCS 421--Combinatorics (3 hrs) MCS 423--Graph Theory (3 hrs) MCS 471--Numerical Analysis (3 hrs)

any suggestions?

I'm not in university / college yet, but to the sounds of it Math 436 and MCS 471 sounds interesting.
10-28-2003
axon

Quote:

Originally posted by Zach L.
Given those choices, I'd probably go for graph theory. Just a personal preference though.

Well, I've still got a good deal of math ahead of me, but Cal III is what I found most challenging so far.

Have you taken graph theory allready? if so can you say anything about it. I found Calc 3 to be the easiest! I could imagine almost everything in 3space pretty well, and the rest was phys mechanics and calc 1 and 2 all over again. Some of my friends had a tough time just because of the imagination factor...so they had to dish out the bill fitty for a TI89 :D :D
10-28-2003
Zach L.

No, I haven't taken graph theory yet, but the subject does fascinate me.

I think the hardest part of calc III for me was that my teacher made us draw out everything, and subsequently graded us on our drawings... Unfortunately, I am a rather poor artist. Imagine an impressionists version of a hyperbolic paraboloid.
10-28-2003
confuted

Number theory is actually rather interesting, from what I've studied of it on my own.
10-28-2003
akirakun

i'm a cs major and math minor and i have completed calc 1-3, and diff eq and linear algebra. i'm currently working on 2 upper division math courses and need 2 more (next semester) to complete the minor (i'm actually done with my cs stuff). the 2 i am taking right now are number theory and geometry (no not your average high school geometry). i was also taking real analysis during the few weeks of the semester but dropped it. i would have to say that real analysis was the hardest math course i have come across. also, from math majors i have spoke with, they say modern algebra is a tough one too. by the way, just in my personal opinion, i find number theory to be quite interesting but also difficult (but bearable). anyway, i suggest number theory because every computer science nerd should know a little number theory. ;)
10-28-2003
Zach L.

Look into abstract (aka modern) algebra as well. A lot of stuff you get in number theory you also get in abstract algebra, though from a slightly different angle. Additionally, there is a lot in the computer science world that deals with groups, polynomial rings, finite fields, etc (all in the domain of abstract algebra). Plus, linear algebra as well as standard arithmetic are both specializations of the algebraic structures that you find in abstract algebra.
10-28-2003
joshdick

I'd say Logic would be the easiest and Number Theory would be the most interesting.
10-28-2003
Govtcheez

Numerical Analysis is infinitely useful.
10-28-2003
akirakun

you might also want to look into probability and statistics. i'm taking probability next semester.
10-28-2003
axon

Quote:

Originally posted by Govtcheez
Numerical Analysis is infinitely useful.

I think I'll take that as one of my CS electives instead of math if it is "infinately useful".

I'm meeting my advisor tomprrow and these are the courses I'll show him :

Code:

Math 435--Foundations of Number Theory (3 hrs) CS 202 -- data structures and discrete math II (3hrs) CS 366 -- computer architecture and logic design II (4hrs) Russ 242 -- Russian Lit - Tolstoy (3hrs) CS 376 -- practicum in cs presentation (1hr) HIST 202 -- ancient civilizations: greece (3hrs) or PHYS 242 -- Phys III modern physics(4hrs)

so I will either have 17 or 18 credit hours...I will take phys instead of history only if this dick of a professor will not be teaching it.

what do you guys think?
10-28-2003
axon

Quote:

Originally posted by akirakun
you might also want to look into probability and statistics. i'm taking probability next semester.

Yes, in my school stats are (still) a requirement; i wanted to take stat 381 this sem but my advisor told me to wait, as it might be taken out of the curriculum.