Understanding Maths Methods: A Comprehensive Overview

[physics2]

Hey guys sort of new here, and i was just wondering if someone could explain to me what topics are involved in mathematics methods?
Would be great if you could,
thanks

 

[HallsofIvy]

I have no idea. If you are talking about a course titled "Mathematics Methods", then I would guess that it shows how to apply ideas from Mathematics to various applications. What ideas and what applications would depend on the level of the course. If this really is a course, I would recommend 1) reading the course description, 2) reading a course syllabus, 3) talking to the teacher of the course. 1) is simplest and least instructive, 3) hardest and most instructive!

 

[physics2]

oh ok thanks, i live in australia, victoria so if anyone else has completed VCE (victorian certificate of education) theyd no

 

[Crosson]

In the USA physics majors take the course "Mathematical Methods" which covers complex numbers, multivariable/vector calculus, ODE, PDE, special functions e.g. Gamma, Beta, Erf, Bessel, Legendre, etc calculus of functions of a complex variable, Fourier transforms, and more.

 

[physics2]

oh alright well ill assume that both of them are the same things, do u have any idea if the resource links on this site have anything to do with maths methods?

 

[mhill]

Mathematical methods are these parts of mathematics you need to know for your career, they may (at least they should ) include

- Calculus in one real Variables

- Calculus in more than one real variable

- group theory (Lie group , finite group)

- Differential (ODE and PDE) and sometimes Integral equations

- Algebra (exterior forms, differential forms, Matrix theory ,...)

curiously as a physicist i scored better grades in Math methods than in proper Physics subjects, i loved Math methods .. however many of my college mate hated them.

 

[physics2]

Oh nice, would you have any tips on how to prepare for it? I am thinking of taking it next year but i want to get a headstart on it!

 

[majesticman]

physics2 i think you being misled here badly by the yanks here...lol

not their fault too ..they are merely guessing here

i finished VCE 2 yrs ago and i assume you are in yr 10 or 11...

MM units 1 and 2 start of with linear algebra, quadratic, cubic...and then some general polynomial stuff, log and exponential, differentialtion of polynomails and integration, applications of those 2...
and then some probability including combinitorics and permutations

I have been tutoring school kids so i keep abreast with the course these days..feel free to ask me if u want to know more

 

[Ulagatin]

Majestic is correct. I live in Australia and am currently doing Maths Methods 4 (one step down from pre-tertiary level) - I'm in Grade 10. I will be studying Maths Methods 5 next year (pre-tertiary level) and this focuses on both integral and differential calculus (unlike level 4: just differentiation in regards to calculus). Please note that Methods is the pure mathematics course, and is generally what is required for entry into mathematics courses at universities/colleges

Next step up is Maths Specialised 5 (pre-tertiary; hardest difficulty prior to university/college) and this covers complex numbers, further principles in integration and differention, sets, sequences, divergence and convergence of functions, and an introduction to linear algebra. This would certainly give you a big leg-up if you do this (have to do Methods 5 in Year 11) if you intend to study further mathematics (and particularly analysis-based mathematics) at university/college.

I intend to do Maths Specialised in Year 12 myself (looking to dbl. major in maths and physics, in a combined degree with comp. sci.). My biggest interest is physics (and then comp. sci).

At the moment, I am working through Apostol's "One-variable Calculus" book which I found a copy of, and I would recommend this. It isn't too difficult (although I'm only ~80 pages through) but it certainly loads new information on to you quickly but in a concise and understandable manner. It will also teach you how to write proofs which certainly can't hurt regardless of where you want to go, post Methods 5. If you want to find out more about Apostol's books, I would suggest talking to Mathwonk (a resident maths professor on this forum)!

Hope this helps (and clears confusion about this subject).

Cheers,
Ulagatin

 

[physics2]

physics2 i think you being misled here badly by the yanks here...lol

not their fault too ..they are merely guessing here

i finished VCE 2 yrs ago and i assume you are in yr 10 or 11...

MM units 1 and 2 start of with linear algebra, quadratic, cubic...and then some general polynomial stuff, log and exponential, differentialtion of polynomails and integration, applications of those 2...
and then some probability including combinitorics and permutations

I have been tutoring school kids so i keep abreast with the course these days..feel free to ask me if u want to know more

big help thanks! well the thing is that i wanted to get a headstart on this course and i was thinking of doing specialist maths to but first i wanted to see how i handled methods.
so i just wanted to start maths methods myself, just to have a general insight of what its about.

Majestic is correct. I live in Australia and am currently doing Maths Methods 4 (one step down from pre-tertiary level) - I'm in Grade 10. I will be studying Maths Methods 5 next year (pre-tertiary level) and this focuses on both integral and differential calculus (unlike level 4: just differentiation in regards to calculus). Please note that Methods is the pure mathematics course, and is generally what is required for entry into mathematics courses at universities/colleges

Next step up is Maths Specialised 5 (pre-tertiary; hardest difficulty prior to university/college) and this covers complex numbers, further principles in integration and differention, sets, sequences, divergence and convergence of functions, and an introduction to linear algebra. This would certainly give you a big leg-up if you do this (have to do Methods 5 in Year 11) if you intend to study further mathematics (and particularly analysis-based mathematics) at university/college.

I intend to do Maths Specialised in Year 12 myself (looking to dbl. major in maths and physics, in a combined degree with comp. sci.). My biggest interest is physics (and then comp. sci).

At the moment, I am working through Apostol's "One-variable Calculus" book which I found a copy of, and I would recommend this. It isn't too difficult (although I'm only ~80 pages through) but it certainly loads new information on to you quickly but in a concise and understandable manner. It will also teach you how to write proofs which certainly can't hurt regardless of where you want to go, post Methods 5. If you want to find out more about Apostol's books, I would suggest talking to Mathwonk (a resident maths professor on this forum)!

Hope this helps (and clears confusion about this subject).

Cheers,
Ulagatin

wow that's great thanks
ill have a look at that book, but where can i find it?
also do you know any other books,places that i could probably learn maths methods from?
i do go to tuition but the maths methods course starts at the end of the year ten course for me (next year)
and i don't want to wait until then.
thanks all (even the yankees for trying to help :) )