Exploring the Benefits of a Math Degree - Why Choose This Path?

[mathdad]

How many here have a math degree? If you do, why did you major in math?

 

[I like Serena]

How many here have a math degree? If you do, why did you major in math?

I do not have a math degree.
Instead I have a degree in computer science.
And I 'almost' have a master's degree in both math and physics.
I chose to major in computer science because that's where my interest lied, and where I could make a living.
I am here on this math site now because I'm still interested in both math and physics even though I'm not using them for my living.

 

[mathdad]

I do not have a math degree.
Instead I have a degree in computer science.
And I 'almost' have a master's degree in both math and physics.
I chose to major in computer science because that's where my interest lied, and where I could make a living.
I am here on this math site now because I'm still interested in both math and physics even though I'm not using them for my living.

1. Any students in your math and physics over 50?

2. Can you teach math in high school?

3. What is the toughest math course you have taken?

4. Do you remember how to solve direct and indirect geometric proofs?

 

[I like Serena]

1. Any students in your math and physics over 50?

I don't recall. There were some older people around, but at the time I wasn't paying attention to that.
And anyway, people with a job wouldn't have attended the lectures I did.
There were special evening lectures and such for them.
I have tutored people over 40 (and I think some over 50) though who made a career change.

2. Can you teach math in high school?

Yes.

3. What is the toughest math course you have taken?

Topology.

4. Do you remember how to solve direct and indirect geometric proofs?

Not sure what you mean by those, but I'll just say yes.

 

[mathdad]

I don't recall. There were some older people around, but at the time I wasn't paying attention to that.
And anyway, people with a job wouldn't have attended the lectures I did.
There were special evening lectures and such for them.
I have tutored people over 40 (and I think some over 50) though who made a career change.
Yes.
Topology.
Not sure what you mean by those, but I'll just say yes.

By geometric proofs I mean proving, for example that triangle ABC is congruent to triangle DEF given a diagram with information about both triangles.

 

[I like Serena]

By geometric proofs I mean proving, for example that triangle ABC is congruent to triangle DEF given a diagram with information about both triangles.

Sure. I'll stick to 'yes'.

 

[mathdad]

You are not the only person to confirm that topology is really hard. Soroban told me the same thing in 2006. He said topology is insane. I am not intetested in learning topology but I am curious what makes topology such a tough course.

I think Soroban said that memorizing hundreds of theorems was the hardest part for him. What made it hard for you? Is it too abstract? Speaking of abstract material, how about abstract algebra? Have you ever taken that course?

 

[I like Serena]

You are not the only person to confirm that topology is really hard. Soroban told me the same thing in 2006. He said topology is insane. I am not intetested in learning topology but I am curious what makes topology such a tough course.

I think Soroban said that memorizing hundreds of theorems was the hardest part for him. What made it hard for you? Is it too abstract? Speaking of abstract material, how about abstract algebra? Have you ever taken that course?

Topology was hard for me due to its abstract nature and requirements to study and learn its proofs by heart.
I consider abstract algebra to be easy in comparison. I can help you there if needed.

 

[mathdad]

I thank you for the offer to help me with abstract algebra but as you can see from my many precalculus posted questions, I am not ready to tackle abstract or modern algebra. My goal here is to learn precalculus material sufficiently well to step into a calculus textbook. My favorite courses are algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, precalculus and very curious about calculus.