Which math course is the best for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
1

<p>Hi, I will be a senior on the next fall and I want to take one math course for my math minor over this summer.</p>

<p>I have the following choices (8-week courses):
MATH 347~Fundamental Mathematics
MATH 444~Elementary Real Analysis
MATH 446~Applied Complex Variables
MATH 461~Probability Theory</p>

<p>Which one do you think is the easiest or best to take?
I don't want to overload myself; therefore, I'm looking for the easiest class.</p>

<p>In addition, I'm only slightly interested in Fundamental Mathematics, but none of them are requirement and "highly" attractive.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Math 461 would be the easiest out of those, but Math 347 is basically the basis for Math 444 and Math 446.</p>

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<p>What is your major? That could make a difference as far as which course is most useful.</p>

4

<p>My major is Astronomy and minors in physics and mathematics.
I need some advanced physics courses for the graduate school, though.</p>

<p>I will take physics 325 and 486 on this fall semester.</p>

<p>It sounds like MATH 347 is the best option since it is the basis for MATH 444 and 446.
Thanks.</p>

5

<p>math 446 is a really easy class–math 347 isn’t really a prerequisite for the class. it also is useful for physics. the big result in the class, the cauchy residue theorem, is used sometimes in physics.</p>

6

<p>I did the math minor. Of those on your list, I’ve taken 347, and in addition I took Math 447 (Real Variables) and ECE 313 (counts for Math 461). </p>

<p>347 is a good class if you haven’t really done many proofs. </p>

<p>447 is do-able without 347. It seems like the first 25% of 447 is stuff from 347 (limits), but unlike 444, 447 covers metric spaces and is more challenging (from what I hear). </p>

<p>But honestly, I don’t see how you can graduate in a science field like astronomy without some background in probability theory, so I would go with 461.</p>

7

<p>Let me ask a math-related question here, so I don’t have to make a new thread.</p>

<p>How do-able is MATH 416 (Abstract Linear Algebra) without me taking MATH 347 (Fundamental Mathematics). It is not a prerequisite but is only a recommendation.</p>

8

<p>Dante, what is your math experience? If your experience is like most students who do well in math in high school, then you should take math 347 first. the way math is taught in that class is much different than in high school.</p>

9

<p>silence_kit, officially, I have only taken math up to Calculus 3. Unofficially:</p>

<p>About 2 years ago I have studied Discrete Mathematics, doing most problems from Rosen’s textbook. I have re-learned Calculus on a rigorous, proof-based level, using Apostol’s Calculus volumes 1 and 2. I have also gained an exposure to linear algebra from those books. Currently, I am working my way through Rudin’s analysis. Just finished 2nd chapter… Oh, I also had an elementary exposure to group theory from Herstein’s “Topics in Algebra”, but came couple sections short of finishing it before moving on to other stuff.</p>

<p>My main concern is - can I write quality proofs. Because this is what students seem to get from MATH 347. I’ve written proofs for some time, but nobody had to actually read and grade them. So I never have gotten a feedback :(</p>

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<p>you’ll be fine. 347 is reccomended so that you get used to the style of college math. it sounds like you’ve figured it out on your own.</p>

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<p>haha that book has a gazillion problems. you must have had a good time in high school . . .</p>

11

<p>Thanks a lot for the response, silence_kit :slight_smile: It made me worry less.</p>

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<p>Oh, haha, yeah… I had a blast going through Rosen’s book. Who knew that math can be so interesting!</p>