Question About a Course on Mathematical Thinking

[sEsposito]

I have to take a required course for my major this fall titled Mathematical Thinking. The course description says something along the ways of "students are expected to give presentations, for examples and counterexamples and proof mathematical theories..." that's not verbatim, but it's what I can remember from the description.

I'm not familiar with this type of class and I'm just wondering if this is a common requirement and what I should expect from this class?

 

[VeeEight]

I am not sure about if this is what you're talking about, but Mathematical Problem Solving is usually offered as a second year undergrad course - see the book the Art of Problem Solving. It is usually along the lines of math competitions (Putnam and all those fun contests) and focuses on develop problem solving skills (proof by contradiction, symmetry, recursion, etc) for various topics rather than developing an entire system of definitions & theorems for only a single topic.

 

[thrill3rnit3]

I have to take a required course for my major this fall titled Mathematical Thinking. The course description says something along the ways of "students are expected to give presentations, for examples and counterexamples and proof mathematical theories..." that's not verbatim, but it's what I can remember from the description.

I'm not familiar with this type of class and I'm just wondering if this is a common requirement and what I should expect from this class?

It's a form of transition from "cookbook style" mathematics (Calculus, LA and DE to a certain extent) to a more "proof-based" mathematics (algebra, analysis, and so on). Some students have trouble making that abrupt switch in mathematical thinking, hence the need for an introductory course to proof. Take the class if you haven't had a good exposure to proofs before.

 

[sEsposito]

It's a form of transition from "cookbook style" mathematics (Calculus, LA and DE to a certain extent) to a more "proof-based" mathematics (algebra, analysis, and so on). Some students have trouble making that abrupt switch in mathematical thinking, hence the need for an introductory course to proof. Take the class if you haven't had a good exposure to proofs before.

Thanks for the explanation, it helped me a lot. It's a required class for me so I have to take it; I'm glad now I know what I'm going into. Thanks again.