Is Taking Three Math Courses in One Semester a Good Idea for a Math Major?

[ian8]

Hi all,

I was thinking what I should take in the spring as a math major I was thinking of taking Abstract Algebra, Probability (calculus based), and geometry, as well as General physics 1, could anyone give me some advice is this a good idea or a bad idea?

 

[ZapperZ]

Hi all,

I was thinking what I should take in the spring as a math major I was thinking of taking Abstract Algebra, Probability (calculus based), and geometry, as well as General physics 1, could anyone give me some advice is this a good idea or a bad idea?

Do you not have an academic advisor to ask this very question?

Zz.

 

[ian8]

Do you not have an academic advisor to ask this very question?

Zz.

Yes I do but she is never available.

 

[ZapperZ]

Yes I do but she is never available.

Go to your department office and request someone to talk to. Otherwise, inform the chair of the dept. that you are not getting the advice that you need.

Zz.

 

[micromass]

Hi all,

I was thinking what I should take in the spring as a math major I was thinking of taking Abstract Algebra, Probability (calculus based), and geometry, as well as General physics 1, could anyone give me some advice is this a good idea or a bad idea?

Please:
1) List the contents of the courses
2) List the knowledge you have
3) List the workload you're used to.

 

[ian8]

Please:
1) List the contents of the courses
2) List the knowledge you have
3) List the workload you're used to.

1)probability course description
An introduction to probability. Topics include mathematical models, sample spaces, conditional probability, discrete and continuous distributions, expected values, moment-generating functions, Central Limit Theorem, multivariate distributions, marginal distributions, conditional distributions, correlation, and one-variable transformations of variables.
Abstract Algebra
An introduction to groups, rings, integral domains and fields. Additional topics include groups of symmetries, rings of integers, rings of polynomials and construction of the field of rational numbers.
Geometry
Both Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries are studied. Each geometry will be understood from three different perspectives: first, as the collection of theorems following from a particular set of axioms; second, as the two-dimensional geometry arising from a particular metric; and third, as the geometry obtained from a set together with a specific group of rigid motions of the set. At least one of these viewpoints will be developed in detail.
2) Have taken Calculus 1-3,Number Theory,Discrete Math (intro proofs course),Linear Algebra
3) I'm used to mostly taking two math courses per semester however I need to take more 300 level math courses and geometry I hear is supposed to be easy mostly math ed majors.

 

[micromass]

How comfortable are you with proofs? Was the LA course proof based? How did you do with proofs in number theory and discrete math?

 

[ian8]

How comfortable are you with proofs? Was the LA course proof based? How did you do with proofs in number theory and discrete math?

I did relatively well in the proofs in those courses I feel I'm comfortable with proofs. LA course was proofs based I did well in proofs in number theory and discrete math.

 

[micromass]

I did relatively well in the proofs in those courses I feel I'm comfortable with proofs. LA course was proofs based I did well in proofs in number theory and discrete math.

Then I think you'll do fine. One thing though is that you should figure out the level of the probability class. It is very possible to make probability theory very technical and proofy. This course would typically see probability theory in terms of measure theory. On the other hand, it might be that won't use any measure theory. If it doesn't, you should be ok. If it does, then you will want to take analysis first and it's not a good idea to take probability now.