Math Backgrounds Undergrad Courses: What do You Think?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sutupidmath
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the categorization of undergraduate math backgrounds based on the courses taken. Participants explore what specific courses might qualify someone as having a poor, fairly good, really good, or impressive background in mathematics, while acknowledging that the depth of learning from those courses is a separate issue.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a poor background in math corresponds to not taking any math courses, while an impressive background is equated with being a math major.
  • Another participant notes that the necessity of math courses depends on the field of study, indicating that most engineering disciplines require calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra.
  • A participant questions the vagueness of the original inquiry, implying that the value of courses is tied to the learning outcomes rather than just the number of courses taken.
  • Some participants emphasize that the number of courses taken should be the focus, regardless of the actual learning achieved in those courses.
  • A later reply reformulates the question to specifically ask which courses a math major should take to fit into the proposed categories.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the importance of course quantity versus the quality of learning, and there is no consensus on how to categorize math backgrounds definitively.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the ambiguity surrounding the definitions of the categories or the criteria for assessing math backgrounds.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in understanding the implications of undergraduate math courses in relation to various academic or professional fields, particularly in STEM areas.

sutupidmath
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
4
Hi, i was just wondering, considering the courses you take as an undergrad, which courses must one have in order to fall in one of these categories:
0. A poor background in math
1. A fairly good background in math
2. A really good background in math
3. An impressive bacground in math,

Here i mainly mean what courses would one put in one of these categories? Regardless of how much one learned from them, that's another issue.

That's probbably a silly question but, it was just popping into my head over and over.

THanx in advance!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
No input whatsoever?
 
0=no math
3=math major

Depends what you need the math for. Most engineering disciplines require only calc 1-3, Diff Eq, and Lin Algebra. If you have those then you are in good shape.

Your question is a little vague.
 
sutupidmath said:
No input whatsoever?

(A) My experience is that descriptive message titles promote more replies.

(B) You said yourself, it's a silly question. Particularly when you say that it doesn't matter how much one learned from them. If someone sits through a class and doesn't learn anything, I am not impressed.
 
0. did not take a course in which Rudin was required (or at least that's what my maths friends tell me...)
 
Vanadium 50 said:
(A) My experience is that descriptive message titles promote more replies..

ops!
Vanadium 50 said:
(B) You said yourself, it's a silly question. Particularly when you say that it doesn't matter how much one learned from them. .

Well, with this i was trying to emphasize only the fact concerning the nr. of math courses you take, because of course it matters how much you learn.

Like, say someone you have no idea who he is, tells you that i have had this, this and this course in math as an undergrad, what would your reaction be: like well, that's nothing; hmmm that sounds good; or wow that's a really good deal?

SO, regardless of how much he/she has learned, i was only trying to solely focus on the nr of courses, because your grades, tests, etc will show how much you really studied and how muc.h you understood the matter


THnx.
 
leumas614 said:
0=no math
3=math major

Depends what you need the math for. .


Forgott to mention, i am a math major, freshman,yet!
So my question, reformulated would be: Which courses a math major must take to fall into one of the categories i listed on my 1st post?
 

Similar threads

My Grade 11 Math mark is eating me alive. What do I do?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
175K
Schools Help with shortlisting graduate programs in HEP-PH/TH
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Courses What math would I need? (physics-math double major interested in THEP)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Studying What background is needed for nuclear physics
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Taking Math Notes: Tips & Techniques for Note Taking
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Courses Is Pure Mathematics required to be a top-tier Physics student?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Admissions Do I have a good shot at CalTech/MIT's graduate program for physics?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
Admissions Do I have a strong enough profile for applied math grad school?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Courses How difficult is graduate statistical mechanics?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
7K
Self Learning Math/Physics
  • · Replies 71 ·
3
Replies
71
Views
4K