Math Is Fun Forum

You have to major straight away in the UK. The degrees aren't so well rounded here. They're more specialized and require more self study vs lecture time. They usually last 3 years so you have to pick your major before you start. I think you can pick for example math and physics. But you would only do the bare minimum requirements for both math and physics. Whereas if you studied one you would do lots of optional topics that you wont have time to do if studying a dual degree.

the type of person who won't get employed'?

I have always been a bit of a rebel. I need to know why we're doing what we are. I have obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to analyzing things. I like to see improvement and refinement. If I see a better easy way to do something I wont take no for an answer. It lead to problems with me in school. I kept asking questions and trying to change the rules so they got fed up with me.

Why do you want a math degree?

I don't really care if I get one. I want to learn maths because it's fun and can be applied to so many situations. A degree just gives me credibility to people and a higher chance of getting employed.

In which field do hou want a job?

I don't know yet. Something that I can continually learn doing. I want it to involve creativity and  not to repetitive. I'm still undecided of what I want to do but it would be related to Maths, physics, computer science or engineering. I don't know what I want to do yet but I like experimenting, discovering and creating things.

Why do you think it should be a last option? It's crazy for me to accumulate $50-80 of debt to do a mathematics degree when I'm the type of person that wont get employed. I can do an online degree that will cost a fraction of that or simply study online in my own time.

bleh I don't like trig. I will memorise them when I start doing trig. Focusing on algebra right now. Thanks for the tips though.

Why can say 2n = even and 2n + 1 is odd. That is based on experimentation right? There is no proof for this as far as I know. But from this you can prove if a number divdes by 2 it's even etc. Well how is it different from having a formula for PI that only works up to a certain number? I haven't heard of any logic that shows 2n is even in all cases. This seems like an axiom to me.

Currently memorizing:

cube numbers upto 12
divisibility rules
binomial expansion to degree 5, difference of squares

I'm wondering if I should bother trying my own proof and memorizing the proofs for things such as:
(-a)(-b) = ab

I didn't even learn any of these rules. I just know   
+ times + = +
- times - = +
- times + = -   

or the same signs = + different signs = -   I had no idea these worked because of other rules that are derived. I'm just wondering if it will hurt me later on. I just learnt a=-b if a+b = 0. I could write a basic proof because of this new knowledge where I substituted or the identity. I wouldn't have been able to write the proof. This is so basic and I did not know. I'm wondering how much it would benefit me and if I need to prove and memorize these rules and identities because it will take me a while. I don't want any it to haunt me later if I don't memorize them like timestables.

Anyone use brilliant.org? There problems are entycing. I can't solve them half the time though xD Is that website a good test of mathematical skill?

Well I'm using them as a supplement to the books so it should be fine.

You need a C in GCSE English most the time. They want your English to be up to the standard that you can learn from the books you read, assignments, etc and write reports, essays, and a dissertation at the end.