Do I even have the capabilities to do a math degree?

[kramer733]

So I've had this goal of doing a math degree for almost 1.5 years now. I'm currently taking a class in adult high school called Calculus and vectors. It's basically the basics of calculus all the way up to differentiating geometric functions (sin,cos,tan). The vectors part is all the way up to an introduction to matrices.

When i get stuck on a problem in this class, it really makes me think if i have the capabilities to do a math degree. I sometimes am not able to see the solutions at all when they were so simple. If i try really hard (putting 8+ hours into homework per day) will i get a math degree?

By the way, the school I'm applying to is called Carleton University. I'm applying to their

Mathematics
B.Math. Honours - Program.

Below is their website.

http://www.carleton.ca/calendars/ugrad/current/programs/mathematicsandstatistics.html#mbmh

 

[DBTS]

Lol, I had or, still have the same problem, it only means you are thinking. While the problem may be simple, you do not see it yet until you solve it. Of course there will be difficult looking problems with very easy solutions and easy looking problems with difficult solutions. It happens all of the time. Plenty of physicists, mathematicians, etc..., have the same problem. As long as you keep working at it and performing well, who cares how long it took you? You have the ability just stop doubting yourself.

 

[fasterthanjoao]

I sometimes am not able to see the solutions at all when they were so simple. If i try really hard (putting 8+ hours into homework per day) will i get a math degree?

No-one will be able to tell you whether or not you have what it takes - the question is: how determined are you to find out?

8+ hours per day is excessive by anyones standards, if that's on top of classes too, however. But - one of the things about math (and physics) is that you need practice.

Doing as many problems as you can find, and re-doing them is a great way to build up a feeling for the subject. Eventually, you'll look at a problem and have a good sense of intuition regards how you would go about solving it. When you develop these skills, it isn't about remembering the solution to a problem that's exactly the same as one prior, it's about feeling out the problem and having an idea about why certain things work in certain cases, and which ones are similar to this one. Some people have this intuition a lot more naturally than others, but there's nothing wrong with having to put in hard work to develop your skills.

 

[jamesa00789]

It doesn't matter if your a brain box or not. I'm doing physics and then doing a masters in mathematics next year - I never got good grades throughout high school until I realized you have to study to get good grades :)

Put the hours in and you'll do fine, regardless of how smart you are. One key thing is enthusiasm. You get good at playing xbox 360 because you like it and you want to do it, doing a degree is no different.

 

[Msh1]

Putting 8hrs a day I think anyone can get a math degree. believe it or not a math degree is not that different from any other degree, what matters is how hard you study. Due to terrible pre-university math education in north america Most people here have this false image that only a few "gifted" people have what it takes to do math. Learning math and even doing research in math is more systematic than you think. when students are stuck on a problem, they think that they lack intelligence and that they will never be able to solve or understand the problem unless they see the solution. NO!. Some students think that when they are stuck on a problem they just have to sit there and think, they either get it or they don't. THIS IS WRONG. Here is how I like to solve a problem.

First, study the required literature before, during and after you solve a problem as carefully as possible:
For example, if you are learning differentiation, first read the definition and memorize it exactly as it is, understand why it makes sense, try to connect that to any other mathematical background you had, if there is a proof, read the proof, try to do it again yourself exactly the way it was, if there is an assumption in a proof or definition, eliminate that assumption and understand why it is incorrect. When you are done studying the subject try to tackle a problem, if you are stuck, go back to the required concepts and definition, find a similar example, still stuck, go online there is plenty of material for introductory math courses, or look for similar problems in another textbook (there are some free ones online) still stuck, leave the problem and try doing as many other similar problems in that topic as you can, hopefully some of them require the same concepts and once you have solved many of them, you have learned enough to solve you original problem.

if you did all of the above, there is a high chance that you have solved the problem! But you are far from done yet. Understand why you were stuck, what concept/technique was it that you did not fully understand, try finding similar problems that require you to know that concept/technique can you solve them? Change some assumptions in the problem, do you understand why the solution becomes incorrect? Try to make an intuitive connection. What does it mean in real life? Can you make geometrical picture for it in your head?

I strongly recommend everyone doing math to read the extremely helpful advice of the fields medalist Terence Tao, titled "does one have to be a genius to do math"
http://terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/does-one-have-to-be-a-genius-to-do-maths/