Which math skills do I need to brush up before studying Physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mathematical skills necessary for pursuing undergraduate studies in Physics, particularly for individuals who have been away from formal education for several years. Participants explore the specific areas of mathematics that may need to be reviewed, including algebra, calculus, and trigonometry, and seek recommendations for resources and textbooks to aid in this preparation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about their long absence from math education and seeks guidance on which specific math skills to re-learn before studying Physics.
  • Another participant suggests that high school math may not cover extensive material, implying that familiarity with basic concepts is often sufficient for further studies.
  • A participant mentions having some knowledge of Calculus 1 and asks for specific math skills to focus on improving.
  • One suggestion includes searching for old college calculus exams as a resource for understanding the level of material expected and encourages using online resources for clarification.
  • There is a note that first-year courses in Physics may allow ample time to brush up on math skills, indicating that students may not need to master everything beforehand.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of reviewing math skills for Physics studies, but there is no consensus on the specific areas to focus on or the best resources to use. Different perspectives on the adequacy of high school math preparation and the necessity of re-learning certain topics are present.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with math topics, and there is uncertainty regarding the specific curriculum differences between educational systems in Slovenia and Canada. The discussion reflects a range of experiences and expectations about math preparation for Physics.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals preparing for undergraduate Physics studies, particularly those returning to education after a significant gap, may find this discussion relevant.

Ryker
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So I was wondering what math skills I need to brush up if I want to sucessfully pursue undergraduate studies in Physics. I am namely 6 - 7 years removed from high school and have therefore forgotten a lot of things I was being taught in Maths classes. Another thing is that where I come from (Slovenia) we didn't have "Algebra", "Calculus" or "Trigonometry" as separate classes, but only Maths as one all-encompassing class. I'm pretty sure we went into more detail than US high schools go (don't know about Canada and UK, though I assume for the latter it's similarly rigorous as throughout Europe) and that we covered everything that was needed.

However, since I'm applying to Canadian universities I was thinking of brushing up my skills by going through textbooks in English - to get familiar with the terminology - and given that there also seems to be a differentiation as far as particular parts of Maths are concerned, and would therefore like to kindly ask for anyone who is willing and can to point me in the direction of what exactly I need to re-learn and which textbooks would best serve this goal. Is there a book that covers all that is to know?

Thanks in advance.
 
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I am also wondering the answer of this question. And yes I know these topics you posted Klockan. Also have a little Calculus 1 knowledge. what math skills you can offer me to work on ?
 
Search for some old college calculus exams like this:
http://www.math.umass.edu/~lr7q/m131-spring2005/oldexams/f-F02.pdf
If you don't understand something then google it. And don't panic if you can't do all of it, you aren't supposed to. It is just that this is roughly what you will be doing.

Don't really know on which level you guys will start. Will you skip the calculus blocks or will you read it all again? Also, the first year courses are all mostly quite easy with a lot of time for each. You should have ample of time to brush up your skills during those courses if you are going in for it seriously.
 

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