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University of Bath

Bath

Maths at Bath!

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Reply 20

SherlockHolmes

Original post by Strangeways1339

It's been a while since I took D1 so I couldn't say exactly, but it's the same sort of stuff as D1. The algorithms include stuff like polynomial evaluation, types of sorting (mergesort, quicksort, insertsort), some of which might be in D1? It also covers some basic graph theory, and proofs by induction applied to stuff like fibonacci sequences. It also teaches programming in matlab.

Then in the second half of first year that module gets a bit more interesting with number theory, coding, cryptography and fast fourier transforms :smile:

Very informative - thanks :smile:

University of Bath

Bath

Reply 21

Dingo749

Original post by Strangeways1339

.....

Hey,

Just wandering how far into the course we would need to look and make decisions on exactly which modules we would like to do? I get that we need to have done things in earlier years to be able to take certain modules but when do we need to make those decisions?

Reply 22

Strangeways1339

Original post by Dingo749

Hey,

It depends a little on what particular course you are on (BSc/MMath/Mathematical sciences/maths and stats), but generally, the first year is all compulsory (no choice).

On BSc, you get a bit of choice in second year (2 out of the 10 modules are choices) and this decision is made in April/May of your first year. It's usually a choice between doing probability, or statistics, or if you want to do say a computer science or physics module in place of a maths one. On MMath there's a little more choice in second year, (6 out of 10 are choices).

On third/fourth year, all your units are choices, and build on second year (so to take stats third year modules you need to have taken stats in second year). Again choices for a year are made in april/may of the prevoius year.

But this is all explained on an "options day" in april, so it's a while before you have to make any hard and fast choices. Also, it's pretty easy to switch modules once you've started one if it's early enough. I know a guy who switched modules 8 weeks into the lectures (like a couple of weeks before the exam! wouldn't recommend that tho).

There's a map of dependencies between 2nd, 3rd and 4th year modules here http://www.docdroid.net/gkc8/guide2014.pdf.html might not make much sense but gives an idea of the structure. You take 5 units per semester, so 10 units per year.

Reply 23

Complex solution

Has anyone been preparing for the start of course?

I've been very worried about forgetting A level material so I've gone through the C3/C4 questions to refresh my memory.

I've even done it on holiday - sad I know :sigh:

Reply 24

SherlockHolmes

Original post by Complex solution

I am fairly comfortable with differentiation and integration so I haven't looked over any of that. However, I have gone through S1 again as it has been over a year since I have done any statistics.

Reply 25

Complex solution

Original post by SherlockHolmes

I am fairly comfortable with differentiation and integration so I haven't looked over any of that. However, I have gone through S1 again as it has been over a year since I have done any statistics.

Hhm I thought they (Bath university) would start teaching us assuming that we may not have accessed some applied modules or FP3 e.g. someone may have specialised in M1-M5 then done D1 instead of any statistics modules - that's why I've focused on core modules, because they are modules every maths student is expected to know on arrival.

Just an extra question -
What is the difference between Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences?
I'm down for the BSc (hons) Mathematical Sciences with industrial placement (4 years) and I can't study 5 years for a master's degree whereas if I took Mathematics I could study the MMath (Hons) Mathematics with industrial placement which is 5 years. :s-smilie:

Reply 26

Strangeways1339

Original post by Complex solution

Yeah the stats and mechanics is taught pretty much from first principles. I knew basically no mechanics or stats when I went but picked everything up OK - they teach it from a rigorous axiomatic point of view so having studied it at A-level and being familiar with how to use it may be helpful, but it's not essential.

Original post by Complex solution

Just an extra question -
What is the difference between Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences?
I'm down for the BSc (hons) Mathematical Sciences with industrial placement (4 years) and I can't study 5 years for a master's degree whereas if I took Mathematics I could study the MMath (Hons) Mathematics with industrial placement which is 5 years. :s-smilie:

The difference between a Mathematical Science degree and a Maths degree is in what units you can choose - Math Sci generally lets you take more computing or physics or other "related" topics whereas on Maths you need to take a certain number of maths modules. However, the first year for Math Sci, BSc Math and MMath, (with or without placement/study year abroad) is identical, and it's really easy to switch once you started. This will be explained in 1st year and as long as you pick acceptable choices in 2nd year, you can still switch right up until end of 2nd year. I was down for BSc with placement but switched to MMath in easter of 2nd year.

Reply 27

Complex solution

Original post by Strangeways1339

year abroad) is identical, and it's really easy to switch once you started. This will be explained in 1st year and as long as you pick acceptable choices in 2nd year, you can still switch right up until end of 2nd year. I was down for BSc with placement but switched to MMath in easter of 2nd year.

Thanks! It's a relief to know I can still change :redface:

Reply 28

SherlockHolmes

Strangeways1339

...

Which textbooks would you recommend?

Would you agree with the ones provided by the university - http://people.bath.ac.uk/mbr20/induction/readinglist.pdf ?

Reply 29

2bon2bt=t?

Does anyone know how many contact hours our course is? I was just wondering, and I couldn't find it anywhere on the website.

Reply 30

Strangeways1339

Original post by SherlockHolmes

Which textbooks would you recommend?

Would you agree with the ones provided by the university - http://people.bath.ac.uk/mbr20/induction/readinglist.pdf ?

I personally didn't use any textbooks in first year, as the lecture notes cover everything you need to know. Often textbooks can be useful in explaining stuff in a different way if you're struggling to understand, or providing background and context to stuff, or giving you more stuff to learn about outside the course. But, I would say before buying anything it's best to see what they have in the library and see if you will need a textbook. Half of the books on that reading list were written by the course lecturers, so them trying to flog their books is probably not the most impartial recommendation :P

I also bought the "XX10190" textbook for £40 and really regretted it. They'll pressure you into it because you're allowed to take it into the exam, but it's a crap book and the time it takes to look up definitions in it during the exam is probably better spent just learning the definitions! But that's my opinion, and how I work, so might not apply.

Reply 31

Strangeways1339

Original post by 2bon2bt=t?

Does anyone know how many contact hours our course is? I was just wondering, and I couldn't find it anywhere on the website.

For first year:
You do 5 modules per semester (half-year), and for each module there are 3 lectures a week (with all the maths first years together) plus one tutorial (in a group of about 10-15 students). So that's 20 hours of teaching per week (although sometimes one of the lectures is designated a "problems class" going over that week's worksheet so if you did the sheet fine you may be able to skip it).

There are also various drop-in sessions with higher year students or lecturers to help you if you're struggling with any sheets. These aren't compulsory but are there if you need them.

Reply 32

Dingo749

On the timetable...

http://timetables.bath.ac.uk/next-year/reporting/individual?identifier=First+year+all+MA&weeks=1&submit2=View+Maths+Timetable&idtype=name&objectclass=programme%2Bof%2Bstudy%2Bgroups&periods=1-11&days=1-5&width=100&height=0

What is actually relevant to us? I have figured out which group I am in on moodle but the things that don't specify A1, A2, B1 etc. such as the lectures or the XX10109 classes? Which of those are relevant?

Original post by Strangeways1339

....

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 33

Strangeways1339

Original post by Dingo749

Haha! Bath really need to pull their finger out and sort out some actually readable timetables.

The three lectures are split into "Leca", "Lecb" and "prob" (ie problems class, which is sometimes used as a lecture). So each module should have a box labelled "leca", one labelled "lecb", and one labelled "prob". You should go to all of these, it will be an academic lecturing to the whole yeargroup.

Then anything labelled "tut" or "sem" is a tutorial/seminar (they're the same thing, dunno why they've distinguished them on here). You should have one of these per module, and you go to the one labelled with your tutor group (A1/A2 sort of thing). This is a tutor taking a class of 10-15 students

Then anything saying "MA-MASH dropin" or something is the drop in sessions that aren't compulsory to get help with anything.

Best thing to do is make your own, readable, timetable once you've figured it out. Just mark on the 20(/21) hours relevant to you. Your tutor may give you one when you get here. Also, you guys don't have any 8:15 lectures - lucky!! :smile:

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 34

Strangeways1339

Oh and the XX10190 "comp" classes, I'm not sure about that I'm afraid - it's changed since I was in first year. I presume you will be told one of those to go to where you do your programming on a computer. Groups seem to be different to tutor groups. I guess they'll explain when you get here?

Reply 35

Dingo749

Original post by Strangeways1339

Yeah I was just wondering what that may be :smile:

Managed to decipher most of it now thank you :smile:

Just can't seem to find a tutorial/seminar for module 208 :') Oh well I'm sure it'll turn up!

Reply 36

Strangeways1339

Original post by Dingo749

Yeah I was just wondering what that may be :smile:

Managed to decipher most of it now thank you :smile:

Just can't seem to find a tutorial/seminar for module 208 :') Oh well I'm sure it'll turn up!

Hmm, not sure why they're not listed on there. I have a master copy of the whole uni-wide timetable where they are listed - if you tell me your tutor group then I can tell you where and when your MA10208 tutorial is?