Overheard in the math lab:
Tutor: OK, so now we have two sides and we know the angle is 30 degrees. So for the next step, what is the sine of 30?
Student: Um….positive?
I almost bust out laughing when I heard that but I composed myself quickly. For those of you who don’t understand the joke, it would be equivalent of something like this:
Tutor: OK, so you know all your state capitals…what’s the capital of Florida?
Student: Um…F?
Priceless…absolutely priceless… 
Well, my plan to do daily updates has not faired well. I blame it on the lack of time I have for anything save school or work. So, here is a recap as to my classes over the past couple weeks.
Oh, and not getting the books for a class until 2 weeks into a class is not a good thing!
Proof and Logic in Math: So far, so good. Most of the beginning was just doing truth tables which are very easy. Then we did tautologies and now we’re actually writing simple proofs. We just got a take-home test given to us which is due on the 9th. Should be pretty easy.
Matrix and Linear Algebra: Started out real easy and ramped up pretty quick. Matrix manipulation is extremely easy but now we’re doing some weird stuff with discriminants that lost me pretty quick. I need to read the book some more and get some more problems under my belt. This coming Monday will be our first test and I want to be prepared for it.
Probabilities and Applications: Was easy but now has gotten extremely hard. We just started a section on figuring out the probability of the i-th ball in the j-th box for n balls and m boxes. It went right over my head. Plus he threw infimum and supremum limits at us which he admits are advanced calculus concepts. I am going to need a lot of practice to keep up with these.
Differential Equations: By far, the most difficult class I have this semester. I got behind by not having the book and wasn’t able to keep up with the homework. Add that to my lack of ability to do these (admittably) difficult integrations and a professor who moves like lightning and I’m definitely struggling in the class. I’m still trying to figure out the first differential equations assigned and he’s already done with Bernoulli equations and has moved on to IVP and BVP which really look difficult. I think I’m screwed…
So, one class is pretty easy (so far), 2 are difficult but I’m holding on, and 1 I’m just totally lost on. The worst thing is I increased my hours available to tutor (as I need the money) but this just puts me further in the hole as I have less hours available for studying and homework.
Wish me luck…
To my math library, that is. “A Transition in Advanced Mathematics” by Smith, Regen, and S. Andrs and “Calculus 7th Edition Brief” by Anton, Bivens, and Davis. The “Advanced Mathematics” book is actually an older version of the book I’m using in my Proof and Logic in Mathematics class and I’m hoping the majority of the material is the same.
To view all of the books in my math library, click here.
Just a haiku (actually a π-ku) and a poem I’ve written. Enjoy.
Pi Is…
Three point one four one
Twenty-two over seven
Close but not equal
Math Knight
Math is fun…
Math is cool…
Math is something you learn in school…
You learn to add…
You learn to divide…
You learn how to compute a side…
Then it’s algebra…
Then it’s geometry…
Then it’s the wonderful trigonometry…
Next comes calculus…
Next comes theory…
Next comes huge problems to make your eyes teary…
And when you’ve worked on a problem day and night…
And when you realize that you have the answer right…
You will have your true identity in sight…
You will be a Math Knight.
This page is devoted to my love…higher mathematics!
“Hofstadter’s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.” – Douglas R. Hofstadter
From my favorite web-comic, xkcd.
