How good are you at mathemathics?

[Pekka]

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.

[Ramo]

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.

[Provost Harrison]

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...

[Drogue]

Re: How good are you at mathemathics?

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Kontiki]

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.

[General Ludd]

Math is probably the most over-rated subject.

[Asher]

Philosophy is.

[Vlad Antlerkov]

Re: How good are you at mathemathics?

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).

[alva]

Originally posted by Trajanus
I know how to add, deduct, multiply and divide. That's about it I guess.

With or without a calculator?

[Provost Harrison]

Well I managed to actually differentiate something the other night, so I can't have completely lost it

[Gibsie]

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.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Dauphin
Is there anything below algebra?

Arithematic. Like adding and subtracting integers.

[Lul Thyme]

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

[Lul Thyme]

Re: Re: How good are you at mathemathics?

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...).

[Urban Ranger]

They actually do something?