- #1
TRB8985
- 74
- 15
One of the last classes I'm taking before finishing my degrees as an undergraduate is abstract algebra. My professor uses the textbook 'Contemporary Abstract Algebra' by Joseph Gallian. The book isn't written terribly nor is the teacher a poor one, but I just find this subject so uncharacteristically challenging compared to all other math experiences I've had up until this point.
I've shared my experience with a couple professors from my physics department, whose specialties lie in heavy-ion physics, lasers, and mathematical physics, and they all seemed to share a common trait of also having difficulty in this subject at an undergraduate level.
This had me curious - do most undergraduate physics majors also have difficulty with this course?
It feels like there's just something uniquely difficult about this subject compared to, say, multivariable calculus or a PDE course. The content is so monumentally boring and so far-removed from anything familiar that even mustering up the energy to do the homework is like pulling teeth, which is funny, because I really do enjoy physics and mathematics.
Has anyone else had this experience? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you for your input.
I've shared my experience with a couple professors from my physics department, whose specialties lie in heavy-ion physics, lasers, and mathematical physics, and they all seemed to share a common trait of also having difficulty in this subject at an undergraduate level.
This had me curious - do most undergraduate physics majors also have difficulty with this course?
It feels like there's just something uniquely difficult about this subject compared to, say, multivariable calculus or a PDE course. The content is so monumentally boring and so far-removed from anything familiar that even mustering up the energy to do the homework is like pulling teeth, which is funny, because I really do enjoy physics and mathematics.
Has anyone else had this experience? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you for your input.