Information about the Math GRE

[Oster]

I was planning to skip fields, Lebesque measures/integration and complex analysis. Can someone who's given the test tell me how important these topics are? (I haven't looked at any practice tests yet) I haven't done this stuff in college yet so understanding them will take quite an effort on my part. Do you think i should just muddle through?

 

[Oriako]

Skip fields and complex analysis? You will likely be able to get by without knowing much about lebesque integration, but you cannot just skip complex analysis or fields.

 

[PhDorBust]

I took the most recent math gre. No lebesgue but lots of abstract algebra and topology and complex analysis. Much more than practice tests led me to believe. :)

For higher topics, there's no need to really understand them. For complex analysis, know cauchy-riemann conditions and cauchy residue theorem. For fields, just know Z_(prime) is a field and the basic definition...

Study basic calculus more. E.g. If I give you a speed S, a position (x,y), and the starting position and velocity vector of a body, what is the shortest path you can take to get to the body. Or another, if I pick two arbitrary distinct points and define a constant C, give equation describing motion such that sum of distances from two points is C.

 

[micromass]

How can you possibly consider yourself a math major without seeing fields, complex analysis and Lebesgue integration? These are fundamental topics!

OK, you might not need them for the GRE. But it's not smart not to study those things...

 

[Oster]

My university says I'm a math major. Don't blame me...
Thanks, I'll get to complex analysis/fields now. I don't have much time left =(
I think I'm ok with calculus.

 

[PhDorBust]

How can you possibly consider yourself a math major without seeing fields, complex analysis and Lebesgue integration? These are fundamental topics!

OK, you might not need them for the GRE. But it's not smart not to study those things...

Correct me I'm wrong, but many UG math students in US don't encounter lebesgue integration. Typically schools will have a 2-semester real analysis sequence. First will be single-variable sequences, differentiability, continuity, riemann integration; and then second semester will be lebesgue integration or analysis on manifolds.

 

[Oster]

I study in an Indian university. It's a three year course in which we will never encounter lebesgue integration or complex analysis. However, we will be taught fields next semester.