So I am taking discrete mathmatics this term (starts monday)

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
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I am such a fvking lame engineer

I am only enjoying my math classes. If I take anything else, not only does it bore me, but I end up failing it due to disinterest.


So, I am takign the only math course available (besides topics in Diff eqtns)that I yet to take.


What should I expect?

My friends tell me that it is pretty hard (teacher sucks), but I am more interested in how interesting it is.

Thanks
 

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
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Nov 27, 1999
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Originally posted by: Goosemaster
I am such a fvking lame engineer

I am only enjoying my math classes. If I take anything else, not only does it bore me, but I end up failing it due to disinterest.

So, I am takign the only math course available (besides topics in Diff eqtns)that I yet to take.

What should I expect?

My friends tell me that it is pretty hard (teacher sucks), but I am more interested in how interesting it is.

Thanks

A spelling Nazi to post in your thread! :p
 

spunkz

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2003
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i had a hard time with it, but our teacher was excellent, so it was challenging but fun. try to find out what topics will be covered so u can brush up before you cover them. for tests, however, you're better off just being mentally prepared for problem solving rather than studying the material for long hours.
 

tfinch2

Lifer
Feb 3, 2004
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My professor used to say, don't ask me for help until you've looked at the problem for atleast 3 hours. The class went from 30+ the first day to 15 within a few weeks, and finished with 6 people. Not sure if they all passed. I made an A, and it was the most satisfying grade I've recieved in my entire life because of the hard work I put into it. Just stick with it and you'll do fine. :thumbsup:
 

Atheus

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2005
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Logic, number theory, matrices, graph theory, etc. It was one of the first classes in my comp-sci degree, indispensable for digital systems stuff.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
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Oh man, i hated that sh!t to death. Horrible horrible class unless youre a complete nerd or asian. Also barely applicable to real world.
 

ghostman

Golden Member
Jul 12, 2000
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We had a grad student "professor" that taught it. Besides the professor having a difficult accent to fully comprehend, the class was just plain hard. Which makes it more fun for me to show off that I was the best in the class. Sad thing is, I don't remember a thing that they taught.
 

Mday

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
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discrete math differs from school to school, as well as who teaches it. you should have some basic background in computer science and logic.
 

mAdMaLuDaWg

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2003
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I found it pretty cool. Lots of set stuff and some algorithm stuff in there. Mostly logic stuff... hardly any formulas to memorize, so if you like to think then you'll be fine.
 

Reel

Diamond Member
Jul 14, 2001
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Ours was pure logic and proofs. A waste of time that I never expect to have to make use of again.
 

Koenigsegg

Banned
Jun 29, 2005
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Originally posted by: Mday
discrete math differs from school to school, as well as who teaches it. you should have some basic background in computer science and logic.

Definitely. I took it at a community college with a great prof, I breezed by it. He skipped through a lot of the harder sections in the book, and I looked at them and thought OMGWTFBBQ.

Was actually one of my favorite math classes, challenging but very doable..

Otherwise there's no real prereqs required or anything, no Calculus or any sort of math is required in the class. Just pure thinking ..
 

engineereeyore

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Jul 23, 2005
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Maybe I should feel lucky we don't have to take it at my school. Only the comp. eng. have to take it. Elec. eng. don't. We do have to take 3 semesters of calculus, linear algebra and differential equations, and then freakin probability. That class sucks. When the prof. gets up at the start of term and says "This class won't be hard if you did well in statistics" and you've never had a statistics class, get ready to bend over. 26 math majors and 6 engineers. Class average on the midterm was 80 and only two of us got above that, and just barely. The other 4 were in the 60's. So I could be wrong, but I can't imagine it would be as bad as probability, though correct me if I'm wrong.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
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Great and very elementary course, every person on the planet should have to take it. If nothing else, it teaches you the proper way any argument should be backed by proof.
 

Wonderful Pork

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2005
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its very abstract, atleast IMHO. I couldn't grasp the concepts firmly enough to full understand it, which is why I dropped the class eventually. You can chalk it up to: 1. an awful teacher who didnt have a firm enough grasp on the english language to fully explain our questions, and 2. my lack of interest for the material.
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: yllus
Great and very elementary course, every person on the planet should have to take it. If nothing else, it teaches you the proper way any argument should be backed by proof.

interesting...
 

Zim Hosein

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Nov 27, 1999
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Originally posted by: yllus
Great and very elementary course, every person on the planet should have to take it. If nothing else, it teaches you the proper way any argument should be backed by proof.

Hmmm... I'll have to see if this class is offered for my major as a possible elective, thanks yllus :beer:
 

ngvepforever2

Golden Member
Oct 19, 2003
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where are you taking it at (campus)?


regards

gary

PS: Discrete math is fun stuff, a lot of computer science related ( that's why I like it) ....after you are done with the hw your head will hurt A LOT. What yllus said is very true, that class makes you use a lot of logic.
 

mAdMaLuDaWg

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2003
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Originally posted by: yllus
Great and very elementary course, every person on the planet should have to take it. If nothing else, it teaches you the proper way any argument should be backed by proof.

Only a very small part of Discrete math is devoted to arguments, and even then it doesn't explore it to the fullest. A philosiphical logic course does a much better job.
I've taken both and the little that your learn about logical arguments in Discrete Math (1 chapter devoted to logic) barely scratches the surface of argument formation.
 

randumb

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Mar 27, 2003
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i thought it was easy. we used the rosen book (chances are you will too), which imo was excellent as far as math textbooks go.