Help me pick my math class

[sao123]

Originally posted by: hans030390
I'm trying to pick a math class for next semester (freshman). I'm currently taking Calc 2, and am not doing so great in it (enough to get a C, but I have a lot of trouble in the class and am only passing because of the curve). So, I'm looking to take the easiest math class that will fulfill what I need for my major (Computer Science). So, here's a list. If you have any comments or recommendations on what will likely be easiest, let me know:

1. Linear Algebra for Undergraduates - Intro to the theory of real vector spaces. Coordinate systems, linear dependence, bases. Linear transformations and matrix calculus. Determinants and rank. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

2. Calc 3 - Elementary geometry of 2, 3, and n-space; functions of several variables; partial differentiation; minimum and maximum problems; multiple integration.

3. Intro to Differential Equations with Applications - Ordinary differential equations and methods for their solution, including series methods and the Laplace transform. Applications of differential equations. Systems, stability, and numerical methods. Partial differential equations of mathematical physics, Fourier series.

4. Intro to Probability and Statistics - Elementary concepts of probability and statistics. Combinatorics, conditional probability, independence, random variables, discrete and continuous distributions, moments. Statistical inference, point estimation, confidence intervals, test of hypotheses. Applications to social, behavioral, and natural sciences.

5. Intro to Mathematical Reasoning - Elementary logic, techniques of proof, basic set theory, functions, relations, binary operations, number systems, counting. Bridges the gap between elementary and advanced courses.

6. Number Theory - Numbers and their representation, divisibility and factorization, primes and their distribution, number theoretic functions, congruences, primitive roots, diophantine equations, quadratic residues, sums of squares.

I don't know if this helps anyone, but I'm currently at Indiana University (Bloomington).

I had to take all of the above (comp sci major + math minor)
#4 is probably the easiest (if you get a good prof)... I had some asian grad student teaching my class and I had a real hard time in it.

Calc 3 is pretty much cake if you get through calc 2 with good knowlegde...
The difference from calc 2 to calc 3 is mostly 2D to 3D... Calc 3 is mostly volume problems than area... Triple integrals, and such. (obviously there is some more to it than this, but, once you learn calc 2, calc 3 is easy)

Diff Eq is pretty much combining CALC + ALGEBRA... IE solving equations with integrals and derivitives in them.


IMO 5&6 are probaly the more interesting of the classes... but the question is... How are you with PROOFS?

 

[QurazyQuisp]

I'm taking #4 at MSU right now, and if you haven't taken calc three, it'll be a tad difficult when you get to continuous random variables. I've taking calc 1,2,3 and diff eq.

I thought calc 3 was ridiculously easy. It's just calc two, but with easier integration and multiple integrals. (there are some formulas but nothing difficult)

 

[acheron]

For CS, you want #5 the most. I'm surprised they let you get away with only one of those for a CS major. I had to take calc 1-4, plus basically three others of the ones you've listed. Frankly, if you're not taking a lot of math, it's not a real CS degree; you might as well get a "programming" diploma from ITT or whatever.

 

[potoba]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Fox5
2. You had calc 1 in high school, and most high school calc teachers seem to suck.

Based on your experience of 1 high school calc teacher? My students get college credit for calc 1, plus when they contact me from college (I have a lot of former students on facebook), I usually hear stuff like "Calc II is a freakin joke! You already taught us all of this stuff. I have to explain a lot of it to my friends."

Oh, and #5 sounds a bit like my discrete math course. It's too hard to point to any of those courses and say "this will be the easiest for you." Number theory kicked my ass, but that's because I skipped a week of classes as an experiment (with the prof's permission), because I had planned on being a math teacher & wanted to find out what it was like to not have a clue during math class. Still got my A, and I recognized that the course was probably easy if I was there, but I was completely lost for about a month. Those were the only tests I ever took where I walked out without a clue if I had an A or an F.

You may be one of these rare high school teachers that do a good job. We usually hate it when we have to deal with students with AP credits.

Anyway, discrete math is the easiest one among these, but it doesnt mean that it is a joke. Anything can be hard if the professors want to make it so. People say that probability is easy, but it really depends on where you take it. Here at Michigan, it is not so easy.