Which math class should I take next semester?

maverick · April 30, 2016, 08:23:40 PM

Calculus III
Linear Algebra
Basic Probability and Statistics

Have the choice between all three for my last math course.

Calc 3 would count as an upper division course for my major.

Please give your reasoning in your answer ty

Ingy · April 30, 2016, 11:16:12 PM

Multiplication tables

g💚jira · April 30, 2016, 11:59:58 PM

Stats > Lin Alg > Calc

Introductory stats is super fun and easy IMO. It's super easy to get sucked into the material.

Lin Alg is really dry but it's pretty easy. The proofs are cute.

Calc III, assuming it translates into general multivariate calc, is more difficult than the other two. It's fairly interesting, but also fairly time consuming.

snee0rp · May 01, 2016, 12:08:20 AM

Calc III wasn't too bad. I guess...
You should probably take it.

maverick · May 01, 2016, 12:36:17 PM

Le Bumpstin

Turkey · May 01, 2016, 12:43:33 PM

Calc 3 is a big time-sink, so consider how much you'll have time for next semester. I regularly did at least two hours of studying or homework for it each day (though that's just me -- I'm naturally a bad student and learn slowly so I think I take more time than an average person).

Linear algebra is fun and easy, and is a neat side of math that you don't get to experience until college even though matrices are incredibly useful in application. Intro stats will be very fun and relatively easy as long as you can memorize a couple formulas. It'll really open your eyes to how statistics can be manipulated in the scientific world to give false or misleading conclusions.

Mattie G Indahouse · May 01, 2016, 12:46:44 PM

The one where you learn about Maths™.

the bare nuckle bandit · May 02, 2016, 09:46:24 AM

the bare nuckle bandit · May 02, 2016, 09:47:08 AM

computer programing

the bare nuckle bandit · May 02, 2016, 09:48:10 AM

Oh · May 02, 2016, 09:49:23 AM

stats is easy but boring.
linear algebra is interesting.
calc III is useful.

what is your major? what industry do you want to go into?

the bare nuckle bandit · May 02, 2016, 09:50:49 AM

a club

nͫiͤcͫeͤ · May 02, 2016, 09:57:43 AM

maverick · May 02, 2016, 08:35:54 PM

Quote from: Simseoh on May 02, 2016, 09:49:23 AM

stats is easy but boring.
linear algebra is interesting.
calc III is useful.

what is your major? what industry do you want to go into?

I'm CS. Not quite sure what I want to do yet.

🂿 · May 02, 2016, 08:41:33 PM

Math sucks dick.

g💚jira · May 02, 2016, 09:03:25 PM

Quote from: Memerick on May 02, 2016, 08:35:54 PM

Quote from: Simseoh on May 02, 2016, 09:49:23 AM
stats is easy but boring.
linear algebra is interesting.
calc III is useful.

what is your major? what industry do you want to go into?
I'm CS. Not quite sure what I want to do yet.

I'm not sure how your CS program is structured. Based on mine [I just finished second year CS], I think that Stats and Lin Alg will have more immediate influences. Stats was invaluable for algorithm analysis/complexity and is the backbone for any sort of AI oriented course. Lin Alg was just expected to be basic knowledge for everyone and used liberally throughout algorithm design questions as well.

Multivariable Calc though didn't really come into play for CS this year. It did pop up in some practice problems but they were usually super basic integrals, which don't take very long to learn on their own.

Spoiler

Also I should note that a bit of Multivariable Calc required Lin Alg knowledge as well. Not a lot, but hey, just putting it out there

PSU · May 02, 2016, 09:04:40 PM

None. They're all useless in the real world.

Turkey · May 02, 2016, 09:16:02 PM

Quote from: PSU on May 02, 2016, 09:04:40 PM

None. They're all useless in the real world.

Nope.

Kitsune 狐 · May 02, 2016, 09:21:16 PM

NONE.

g💚jira · May 02, 2016, 09:27:19 PM

Quote from: HollowedTurkey on May 02, 2016, 09:16:02 PM

Quote from: PSU on May 02, 2016, 09:04:40 PM
None. They're all useless in the real world.

Nope.

Still haven't lost your charm Mr. Turkey

Korra · May 02, 2016, 09:30:32 PM

None.

But if you have to, Calculus.

Oh · May 03, 2016, 02:44:19 AM

Quote from: Memerick on May 02, 2016, 08:35:54 PM

Quote from: Simseoh on May 02, 2016, 09:49:23 AM
stats is easy but boring.
linear algebra is interesting.
calc III is useful.

what is your major? what industry do you want to go into?
I'm CS. Not quite sure what I want to do yet.

linear algebra for computer science.

big dog · May 03, 2016, 07:36:05 AM

Linear Algebra, definitely.