<p>I'm enrolled in a finite mathematics course that I need because it's a GE requirement. I'll be taking it in the winter session soon and I wanted to know if it's perceived to be very difficult. Sadly, math is not my strong suit and I need this class to successfully transfer. If I fail to pass the course, I won't be transferring at all next year. As you can imagine, the stakes are fairly high.</p>
<p>Just how hard is finite math in your opinion, guys? Is it as difficult as stats, more difficult, or less difficult?</p>
<p>If it helps at all in determining if I have a decent chance at passing the class, I'll be taking it with a professor who has pretty high ratings on ratemyprofessors. Thanks in advance and merry Christmas.</p>
<p>No college-level math class is ever easy. All require work and dedication. I think you won’t struggle though if you said your professor has great ratings. Best of luck to you. </p>
<p>I took stats. Not finite mathematics. So I can’t compare them. </p>
<p>I haven’t started the class yet, so I don’t have a copy of the syllabus, but I do have the book. Skimming over it, the chapters on calculating simple and compound interest seem somewhat easy, as well as the chapters on statistics, logic, and sets, but the ones on matrices and linear programming seem impossible.</p>
<p>Don’t worry, I’m firmly convinced mathematicians invented math symbols just to intimidate normal people and make themselves seem totally awesome</p>
<p>once you learn what all that stuff is supposed to mean, matrices and linear algebra isn’t too bad. unless your professor is an ahole and makes it a lot harder than it needs to be lol</p>
<p>oh if you get to use a TI-XX, the stats portion should be cake</p>
<p>Well, I’m taking a similar course (Discrete Mathematics) next semester, but I self studied a lot of the material when I decided I wanted to be a math major. </p>
<p>Basically you do truth tables and some symbolic logic stuff maybe with logic gates/circuits, naive set theory with relations, maybe equivalence relations, equivalence classes, partial orders, functions…, proof techniques (direct, induction, contradiction, contrapositive method), useful functions (floor, ceiling), divisibility, modular arithmetic, coding theory (depending on your teacher), some basic combinatorics (for this part, use the Art of Problem Solving textbook on introductory counting and probability, and maybe the intermediate), maybe recurrence relations/difference equations, maybe graph theory (which includes a LOT of stuff like matrix representations), and more!!!</p>
<p>Overall, I’m super excited for this class!!! It seems like the first legitimately conceptual math class, rather than the computational approach I’ve had up until now (I’ve taken up to Linear Algebra/ODEs). Also, the applications of these concepts will be useful in programming and probability and pretty much everything I want to do as an actuary. </p>
<p>Sounds interesting, sega18. Also, as a philosophy major, I’ve already completed a class in symbolic logic. I got an A. :P</p>
<p>Looks like I’m at least somewhat prepared for the class. Thanks for the response, and I wish you luck in your studies and on your path to becoming an actuary. It’s an extremely difficult job, but I’ve heard it’s satisfying and pays extremely well.</p>
<p>Discrete math is far more advanced than Finite math. Finite has no Algebra in it ,so it is really easy to get an A. I would not worry too much about it. Finite simply touches a little bit of probability, financial math, matrices, systems of equations. I think you will be fine.</p>
<p>I was going to say that I think Discrete Math is more an intro to proofing using induction and logic at the University level, while Finite math is more based upon practical applications of math. But I think it is dependent on the college…</p>
<p>In reality Finite Math should be Discrete Math, which is the course that sega18 describes. It ismainly for computer science/ engineering/ math majors and it gives you an introduction to upper division math. Contrary to popular belief college level math at the community college level is easy… I say this because real Math is not about memorizing formulas and regurgitating numbers… It is about understating proofs and learning the real foundations of Math that all most majors (especially engineers) take for granted.</p>
<p>However the ‘Finite Math’ that Cayton is taking is not really discrete math. In reality is Math for Social Sciences. It is slightly more difficult than stats so get your study on…All you need to do is memorize a few formulas about regurgitate them. As always try to work both on speed and accuracy.</p>
<p>For Sega18, Im glad that you are exited to start taking discrete math, when I took it I did not give it the respect it deserves. As you stated yourself this is the beginning more conceptual based classes vs L.A and Differentials. There is no way that you will be able to cover all the stuff you mentioned in one semester. Most probably you will deal with</p>
<p>Proof Strategies (direct, indirect, conterapositive)
Truth Tables (Karnaugh tables are really cool)
Combinatorics and Equivalence classes. </p>
<p>In equivalence classes you learn about the different levels of infinity (more than 1) and is important for higher math.</p>