So first of all, I took AP Calculus last year and did well in the class, but not so hot on the AP exam (I only got a 2 on the AB exam). I also didn’t do amazing on my math placement exam for IU (I don’t remember what it was exactly, but it was in the C-range I believe). I’m going into the College of Arts and Sciences and have registered for classes, but for my mathematics modeling course I was put in MATH M-118: Finite Mathematics. I’ve learned that it’s a very difficult course and I would be learning completely new material, so I was trying to do some research if there was any way I could take a calculus course to fulfill this mathematics modeling requirement (I actually enjoyed calculus). I’ve seen MATH M-119: Brief Survey of Calculus I might be an option, but would I also have to take MATH M-120: Brief Survey of Calculus II? I know MATH M-211: Calculus I is also an option, but is much more advanced. So which course should I take? Should I stick with finite or take a calculus course? If so, which one? I plan on going into international studies and possibly pre-law if that helps. Thanks!
https://gened.indiana.edu/requirements/index.html says that you need to complete one of the listed courses to fulfill the math modeling general education requirement.
My opinion. I think what makes Finite math “hard” is the environment, not the content (especially for someone with advanced HS math). It’s 100 plus students in a lecture hall. I don’t think math is learned that way. I would try to pick something with a small class size. My kid got stuck with Finite because he is going business.
@yourmomma I doubt you’re going to find an intro-level math class at IU with a small class size.
@ucbalumnus I know the college of arts and sciences has different requirements than the rest of the university for some things. OP, I would try to call someone at CAS and see if you can talk to an advisor. I did a little bit of research, but I don’t really understand how CAS requirements work.
He might be able to hit calc. I think it’s about 30 seats per class.
I’m not sure about M211, but M119 (the easier calculus) is taught in large lecture halls like finite. I think it would be a mistake to take M211 just for a smaller class size. The professors are pretty good about answering questions during class even in large lecture halls as long as you sit in the front and pay attention.
If you got a 2 on the AP, you didn’t get credit for Calc. If you “didn’t do amazing” on your math placement exam, you may not be allowed to take Calc.
I think this is a discussion you need to have with someone at your school.
Also, for what it’s worth, the level of difficulty of Finite Math REALLY depends on how your school defines it and which topics they choose to include. The fact that it’s the course you were placed into with less than sterling test scores makes me think that it will be easier than you thing.
@bjkmom Finite math (M118) and a brief survey of calculus (M119) are essentially the same level of difficulty at IU, even though the material is obviously different.
If you are strong in math and come into M118 with a basic understanding of probability concepts (conditional probability, permutations, combinations, etc) and matrices, it is very easy. But if you aren’t strong in math in general, it can become overwhelming pretty quickly (it could easily take a weak math student 30+ minutes to solve 1 matrix problem, and then there’s no guarantee of actually getting the correct answer if you’re doing it by hand). Finite is probably the toughest course at IU to predict whether a random person will find it easy, because some people get an easy A without much effort, and some people get 20% raw scores on the exams. Most classes don’t have that wide of a range of outcomes.
If you’re curious, I can’t find a specific list of topics covered in finite, but I took the course and still tutor other students in it. Some major concepts that I can remember are:
-Conditional Probability (using venn diagrams, tree charts, raw numbers, etc)
-Matrices (finding the inverse, stable state vectors, production matrices, etc)
-Linear Programming (all by hand, which absolutely sucks even though it’s pretty easy)
-Markov Chains
Some of the homework problems can get pretty crazy, especially if you make a calculation error, so it’s very important to go to help sessions when you need help.
@iubaccounting Thank you so much for all of your feedback!! It was very insightful. I plan on sticking with finite and if I encounter any difficulties I will definitely use the resources you recommended.
Suggest taking finite at ivy tech. Online or in person. Much easier than the iu version
Our son is in SPH, and like you, took Calc in high school, so I figured he would be better off taking Calc rather than Finite. He had heard Finite could be pretty hard, too. He didn’t exactly kill Calc in HS, but I figured since he was at least exposed to it before, it won’t be like learning it for the first time.