Most/least fav branches of math

bigred · 1st May 2011, 08:05 AM

In school I loved algebra, I guess because it seemed so straightforward. HATED geometry - this law proves that angle, blah blah, borrrrring. I didn't get much farther than a few initial courses of calc, kinda neutral on it.

You?

dasmiller · 1st May 2011, 08:33 AM

Didn't care much for the basic vector math (dot & cross products, that sort of thing) at the time, but later when I had to write my own 3D graphics engine, vector math became very, very cool. Later, when modeling 3D comm systems, I was delighted to find out how much easier that stuff got if you had a good vector library. So that would be my favorite, now.

Least favorite . . . someday I'll go off on my rant about Joukowsky transforms.

Jorghnassen · 1st May 2011, 01:41 PM

Math has too many branches. I hate them all.

Sledge · 1st May 2011, 02:07 PM

I'm against whatever inspired the creation of Numb3rs. That show is beginning to annoy me.

Molinaro · 1st May 2011, 02:13 PM

I love predicate calculus.

I hate non-euclidean geometry.

Modified · 1st May 2011, 03:24 PM

Anything requiring a lot of creativity and cleverness, such as computational theory or graph theory.

Anything that can be applied to real world problems. Vector calculus without applications = no fun, vector calculus used for EM = fun.

quarky · 1st May 2011, 06:21 PM

Loved me some solid geometry. Still use it frequently.

Spindrift · 1st May 2011, 06:32 PM

I have a degree in math so I like most branches, but I hate abstract algebra. I struggled to get a C, it was the only math class I had a problem with.

Kaylee · 1st May 2011, 11:59 PM

I enjoyed high school math: algebra, trig and geometry. I liked the logic and the conciseness. Of the three, it was a tie between algebra and geometry as I could see how to apply what we were learning to real life situations.

I didn't enjoy math in college: calculus and statistics. Probably because I couldn't teach myself those subjects out of the textbook and the acoustics in the college classrooms were far more challenging than the acoustics in my high school classroom and I got nothing out of the lectures.

I'm reading Statistics for Dummies right now however and so far so good. The author does a nice job of relating the concepts to every day situations and topics that typically come up in the media.

Pulvinar · 2nd May 2011, 01:24 AM

Interesting-- calculus has been my favorite ever since I taught myself out of a textbook because I found it amazingly powerful: all these real-world problems that could now be solved with it. Trig is least favorite since, like dasmiller, discovering the simplicity of vectors in place of angles for 3D rotations.

roger · 2nd May 2011, 07:59 AM

So much of the lower level math is just learning manipulation rules, which suck. I hated my matrices class - hand solving tons of matrices problems. I loved learning calculus, in that learning the general principles was so cool - it opened up a whole world, though at some point it was again - learn this manipulation.

I enjoyed computational numerics - but I was working on a thesis on developing parallel algorithms for solving them, so it was not much manipulation, but a lot of thinking.

soylent · 2nd May 2011, 09:05 AM

Like: Linear algebra in euclidian spaces, geometry.

Hate: Numerical masturbation(what was called "math" in 1-6th grade and mostly involved doing long division 4 billion times with pen and paper; really just manual computation). You need to know what manipulations may be performed, but there's no point training to become very good at something which a computer is a billion times better at.

Is easily bored by: "Consider an n-dimensional hypercube, and connect each pair of vertices to obtain a complete graph on 2n vertices. Then colour each of the edges of this graph either red or blue. What is the smallest value of n for which every such colouring contains at least one single-coloured 4-vertex planar complete subgraph?"

pgwenthold · 2nd May 2011, 09:43 AM

Complex analysis has always been my favorite math. I liked learning the tools of it, but mostly I love the concept. We learn about the "number line" in first grade. In complex analysis, you step off the line.

Psiload · 2nd May 2011, 09:43 AM

I can't math.

Bikewer · 2nd May 2011, 10:06 AM

I'm pretty much down with arithmetic... If I have 5 apples, and give two to Henry... That sort of thing.
Other than that I am in the ranks of the innumerate.

From my sig, you'd guess I was attracted to non-Eucllidian geometry, but it's just too alien...

Molinaro · 2nd May 2011, 10:30 AM

From your sig I would guess you are attracted to the empty set.

Mark6 · 2nd May 2011, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

I have a degree in math so I like most branches, but I hate abstract algebra. I struggled to get a C, it was the only math class I had a problem with.

Opposite.

I too have a degree in math (B.S.), and I loved abstract algebra and number theory. It's a shame I forgot all of it

Calculus I kind of liked. Utterly hated geometry -- except when done algebraically.

Mark6 · 2nd May 2011, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by soylent

Is easily bored by: "Consider an n-dimensional hypercube, and connect each pair of vertices to obtain a complete graph on 2n vertices. Then colour each of the edges of this graph either red or blue. What is the smallest value of n for which every such colouring contains at least one single-coloured 4-vertex planar complete subgraph?"

I used to enjoy things like that. Unfortunately, if you do not keep practicing them you lose the ability to do them -- and to enjoy them.

quarky · 2nd May 2011, 05:02 PM

I like thinking. Years ago, pre-internet, I needed to know the surface area of a sphere, but had forgotten the formula. i brute forced it out of my head. A proud, silly moment for me.

1st May 2011, 08:05 AM	#1
bigred Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA Posts: 12,538	Most/least fav branches of math In school I loved algebra, I guess because it seemed so straightforward. HATED geometry - this law proves that angle, blah blah, borrrrring. I didn't get much farther than a few initial courses of calc, kinda neutral on it. You?

1st May 2011, 08:33 AM	#2
dasmiller Just the right amount of cowbell Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Well past Hither, looking for Yon Posts: 3,464	Didn't care much for the basic vector math (dot & cross products, that sort of thing) at the time, but later when I had to write my own 3D graphics engine, vector math became very, very cool. Later, when modeling 3D comm systems, I was delighted to find out how much easier that stuff got if you had a good vector library. So that would be my favorite, now. Least favorite . . . someday I'll go off on my rant about Joukowsky transforms.
	__________________ "In times of war, we need warriors. But this isn't a war." - Phil Plaitt

1st May 2011, 01:41 PM	#3
Jorghnassen Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The realm of ideas Posts: 3,881	Math has too many branches. I hate them all.
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1st May 2011, 02:07 PM	#4
Sledge Grammaton Cleric Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Swingin' on a star Posts: 7,123	I'm against whatever inspired the creation of Numb3rs. That show is beginning to annoy me.
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1st May 2011, 02:13 PM	#5
Molinaro Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,032	I love predicate calculus. I hate non-euclidean geometry.
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1st May 2011, 03:24 PM	#6
Modified Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,062	Anything requiring a lot of creativity and cleverness, such as computational theory or graph theory. Anything that can be applied to real world problems. Vector calculus without applications = no fun, vector calculus used for EM = fun.

1st May 2011, 06:21 PM	#7
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454	Loved me some solid geometry. Still use it frequently.
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454

1st May 2011, 06:32 PM	#8
Spindrift Enturbulator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here! Posts: 8,451	I have a degree in math so I like most branches, but I hate abstract algebra. I struggled to get a C, it was the only math class I had a problem with.
	__________________ I've always believed that cluelessness evolved as an adaptation to allow the truly appalling to live with themselves. - G. B. Trudeau A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. - Kay, Men in Black.

1st May 2011, 11:59 PM	#9
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,838	I enjoyed high school math: algebra, trig and geometry. I liked the logic and the conciseness. Of the three, it was a tie between algebra and geometry as I could see how to apply what we were learning to real life situations. I didn't enjoy math in college: calculus and statistics. Probably because I couldn't teach myself those subjects out of the textbook and the acoustics in the college classrooms were far more challenging than the acoustics in my high school classroom and I got nothing out of the lectures. I'm reading Statistics for Dummies right now however and so far so good. The author does a nice job of relating the concepts to every day situations and topics that typically come up in the media.
Kaylee Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,838	__________________ When everyone think alike, no one thinks very much. -- Walter Lippman'' Last edited by Kaylee; 2nd May 2011 at 12:02 AM.

2nd May 2011, 01:24 AM	#10
Pulvinar Muse Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 819	Interesting-- calculus has been my favorite ever since I taught myself out of a textbook because I found it amazingly powerful: all these real-world problems that could now be solved with it. Trig is least favorite since, like dasmiller, discovering the simplicity of vectors in place of angles for 3D rotations.
Pulvinar Muse Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 819

2nd May 2011, 07:59 AM	#11
roger Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 11,021	So much of the lower level math is just learning manipulation rules, which suck. I hated my matrices class - hand solving tons of matrices problems. I loved learning calculus, in that learning the general principles was so cool - it opened up a whole world, though at some point it was again - learn this manipulation. I enjoyed computational numerics - but I was working on a thesis on developing parallel algorithms for solving them, so it was not much manipulation, but a lot of thinking.
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2nd May 2011, 09:05 AM	#12
soylent Muse Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 962	Like: Linear algebra in euclidian spaces, geometry. Hate: Numerical masturbation(what was called "math" in 1-6th grade and mostly involved doing long division 4 billion times with pen and paper; really just manual computation). You need to know what manipulations may be performed, but there's no point training to become very good at something which a computer is a billion times better at. Is easily bored by: "Consider an n-dimensional hypercube, and connect each pair of vertices to obtain a complete graph on 2n vertices. Then colour each of the edges of this graph either red or blue. What is the smallest value of n for which every such colouring contains at least one single-coloured 4-vertex planar complete subgraph?"
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2nd May 2011, 09:43 AM	#13
pgwenthold Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 12,071	Complex analysis has always been my favorite math. I liked learning the tools of it, but mostly I love the concept. We learn about the "number line" in first grade. In complex analysis, you step off the line.
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2nd May 2011, 09:43 AM	#14
Psiload Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,105	I can't math.
Psiload Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,105	__________________ You're not the boss of me.

2nd May 2011, 10:06 AM	#15
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 9,532	I'm pretty much down with arithmetic... If I have 5 apples, and give two to Henry... That sort of thing. Other than that I am in the ranks of the innumerate. From my sig, you'd guess I was attracted to non-Eucllidian geometry, but it's just too alien...

2nd May 2011, 10:30 AM	#16
Molinaro Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,032	From your sig I would guess you are attracted to the empty set.
	__________________ 100% Cannuck!

2nd May 2011, 10:40 AM	#17
Mark6 Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,176	Originally Posted by Spindrift I have a degree in math so I like most branches, but I hate abstract algebra. I struggled to get a C, it was the only math class I had a problem with. Opposite. I too have a degree in math (B.S.), and I loved abstract algebra and number theory. It's a shame I forgot all of it Calculus I kind of liked. Utterly hated geometry -- except when done algebraically.
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2nd May 2011, 10:42 AM	#18
Mark6 Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,176	Originally Posted by soylent Is easily bored by: "Consider an n-dimensional hypercube, and connect each pair of vertices to obtain a complete graph on 2n vertices. Then colour each of the edges of this graph either red or blue. What is the smallest value of n for which every such colouring contains at least one single-coloured 4-vertex planar complete subgraph?" I used to enjoy things like that. Unfortunately, if you do not keep practicing them you lose the ability to do them -- and to enjoy them.
Mark6 Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,176	__________________ Gamemaster: "A horde of rotting zombies is shambling toward you. The sign over the door says 'Accounting'"

2nd May 2011, 05:02 PM	#19
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454	I like thinking. Years ago, pre-internet, I needed to know the surface area of a sphere, but had forgotten the formula. i brute forced it out of my head. A proud, silly moment for me.
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454