askayscha Wrote:^I am really naturally good at mathematics.
I barely try and I'm good at it.

not to brag of course. xD

The variance in skill for a field like mathematics is quite large, and each specialty can get rather deep.

If you feel you are good at it, you should hang around people who are even better, so you can improve even more... ...with the exception of one person, there is always someone smarter/better.

Even that #1 guy is lacking in some area, so things tend to balance out.

kfmfe04 Wrote:The variance in skill for a field like mathematics is quite large, and each specialty can get rather deep.

If you feel you are good at it, you should hang around people who are even better, so you can improve even more... ...with the exception of one person, there is always someone smarter/better.

Yeah, I struggled at curvy maths (calcII) and hated statistics (that's not math!) while I was a top student in more logical stuff like linear algebra. Math is way too broad of a field to just say "I'm good at math".

kazelee Wrote:

askayscha Wrote:^I am really naturally good at mathematics.
I barely try and I'm good at it.

not to brag of course. xD

Once the basics are learned we are all good at mathematics.

Not always the case.

I doubt that your average 4.0GPA calculus-knowing high school student would succeed in a class on the theory of Lie groups.

That said, I have found that most students in introductory calculus are actually capable of understanding the calculus itself -- it's mostly the algebra that gives them problems.

Perhaps schools should stop trying to 'rush' kids into calculus, and instead spend more time on the basics.

It's the same when I was learning piano. I taught myself for the first 3 years, and was probably a little overambitious in choosing difficult pieces. When I got a teacher, I was forced to do easier pieces -- with perfection, some finger exercises and scales -- with perfection.

After going back and working on the basics, the results are amazing.

We don't do 4.0GPA stuff here in England.
My strongest point is probably Trigonometry and Algebra as a whole.

You can be naturally good at something, like how some people are more athletic than others and don't have to try as hard as other people, who aren't athletic.

askayscha Wrote:We don't do 4.0GPA stuff here in England.
My strongest point is probally Trigonometry and Algebra as a whole.

You can be naturally good at something, like how some people are more athletic than others and don't have to try as hard as other people.

For that matter, I doubt what you call 'algebra' is the same as what I call 'algebra'.

playadom Wrote:

askayscha Wrote:We don't do 4.0GPA stuff here in England.
My strongest point is probally Trigonometry and Algebra as a whole.

You can be naturally good at something, like how some people are more athletic than others and don't have to try as hard as other people.

For that matter, I doubt what you call 'algebra' is the same as what I call 'algebra'.

In that case, what do you call algebra?
And is this a debate? :/

Ah well, any 'debate' aside, being good at algebra[the manipulating variables kind] will serve you very well if you decide to continue in math.

I guess I would define Algebra as the branch of mathematics that studies algebraic structures[fields(like the rational numbers),groups, that kind of stuff]. Of course, I'm probably not the best person to ask, not being that far along in my studies. Ask Glowing Face Man...He's a grad student.

Algebra is "Modern Algebra" and "Group Theory" with a little bit of "Cryptography" and "Abstract Algebra" thrown in the mix.

Been there, done that.

Good times

theasianpleaser Wrote:Good times

Indeed.

heh, Professor at my uni was telling me how 90wam students (students with a weighted average mark of 90% for subjects) in mathematics up to their 3rd year struggle when it comes to doing their honours thesis.

I think that alone enough shows that marks don't mean shit in mathematics.