<p>I need to take 55 for a major I'm considering, but the only math class I've taken at Berkeley is 16A. I took 2 years of calculus back in high school, but I was wondering if how difficult it would be to take this Math 55 with my current math experience. Would I be at a disadvantage?</p>
<p>What major are you considering now?</p>
<p>I’m thinking about Cognitive Science.</p>
<p>I don’t think calculus is the issue; mathematical maturity is. 55 involves more pure mathematics–number theory, logic, proofs. it’s much more abstract than what you’ve experienced before–calculus is generally just a load of computation (which is why I personally like it). high school calculus and 16A probably won’t give you a very strong background and foundation for that material. </p>
<p>you could find abstract math easy; you never know. but in terms of mathematical maturity, you’re at a heavy disadvantage if you haven’t gone through 1A-B (math with a little bit of proofs), and maybe even 54 (more proofs) (53 is more calculus/computation based; 54 starts to border into abstract math via linear algebra). math is like a staircase in general: you gotta take it step by step. jumping the steps 4 at a time generally doesn’t work.</p>
<p>Right, the previous poster is correct – the major trouble is 55 actually will have you write mathematics properly, and you can’t underestimate how hard that is if you haven’t done it before. Frequently you cannot gauge your errors until you make plenty of them and are corrected. Linear algebra is a good, refined and simple theory (at least at the lower levels) to get you to write them properly. </p>
<p>If you really want to do it, then put yourself through 3-4 weeks of significant proof writing training first, and then plan to spend time being careful for 55. I can try to be helpful on this sort of thing if you’d like.</p>
<p>so would you guys recommend that I take both 1A and 1B next year before I take 55? I’m willing to take the classes, but it would mean that me taking 16A this year was a waste of time and that kinda sucks. T_T</p>
<p>Maybe I wasn’t clear, but 1A and 1B are only relevant in so much as they may get you to write mathematics a little more clearly. The difficulty with 55 for you would be the abstraction and intro to proofs, which aren’t really prevalent in 1A and 1B – only to an extent. The class 55 would be closer to getting one ready for the proof-writing necessary in the upper division. </p>
<p>Work through a good book that asks you to write proofs for around a month, and you should get the hang of it if you do it persistently and get feedback. I have a list of a few things that you should work through in detail if you want to get the hang of proofs. Send me a PM if you’d like. I don’t think you should have to take 1A-1B.</p>