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How is maths like at uni??

My F.maths teacher keep saying maths isn't all its cracked up to be at Uni and that its completely different to A - level.

Basically he says what you do is go into extreme depth in section unlike A-level where you just cover as much ground as possible.

I was just wondering is it more memorizing theorems and using what you have been told to use or do you have to "think outside the box"?

Also with maths would you say you could do a post grad in a lot of different subjects for example doing maths then going in economics or physics or do you just end up teaching (not that that's a bad profession).

Also is it more pure mathematics or practical mathematics at University or do you get to choose?

Any help would be great.

Thank in advance.

Reply 1

Dimez

14

It's nothing like A-levels mate, that's for sure. It's far more interesting and challenging and you're expected to do most of the thinking for yourself, where in A-levels the questions would be broken down into different inter-connecting parts etc., university is very much 'one part' and no hints are given. Good fun though terribly challenging. :smile:

Reply 2

Swayum

18

I have a question to add to that. Does Maths at University require really good problem solving skills (like hard SMC questions/BMO standards)?

Reply 3

generalebriety

16

Swayam

I have a question to add to that. Does Maths at University require really good problem solving skills (like hard SMC questions/BMO standards)?

SMC/BMO is a really bad example because it's a very specific type of problem-solving skill. STEP is probably closer to university standard. Basically, it's A-level maths, but much deeper, much more extended, and you're not expected to have your hand held all the way through the problem.

An example of a sort of vaguely university "standard" question (made up off the top of my head, admittedly :biggrin:

):
"Prove, using the focus-directrix property, that the sum of the distances from the two foci of an ellipse to any given point on the ellipse is constant. Hence show that..." (This would be the first, easy lead-in part to a longer question on a first term paper.)

The A-level equivalent:
"E is the ellipse x^2/9 + y^2/16 = 1. The foci are F and F'.
(a) Write down the coordinates of F and F'.
(b) Show that the ellipse can be parametrised as x = 3 cos t, y = 4 sin t.
(c) Using (a) and (b), find expressions for the distances FP and PF', where P is any point (x, y) on the ellipse.
(d) Show that FP + PF' = 6. [12 marks]" (Probably on the harder end of FP2.)

*shrugs* Something like that. :biggrin:

And of course you learn loads of new material... but you knew all that.

Reply 4

D.Hilbert

7

generalebriety

SMC/BMO is a really bad example because it's a very specific type of problem-solving skill. STEP is probably closer to university standard. Basically, it's A-level maths, but much deeper, much more extended, and you're not expected to have your hand held all the way through the problem.

An example of a sort of vaguely university "standard" question (made up off the top of my head, admittedly :biggrin:

):
"Prove, using the focus-directrix property, that the sum of the distances from the two foci of an ellipse to any given point on the ellipse is constant. Hence show that..." (This would be the first, easy lead-in part to a longer question on a first term paper.)

The A-level equivalent:
"E is the ellipse x^2/9 + y^2/16 = 1. The foci are F and F'.
(a) Write down the coordinates of F and F'.
(b) Show that the ellipse can be parametrised as x = 3 cos t, y = 4 sin t.
(c) Using (a) and (b), find expressions for the distances FP and PF', where P is any point (x, y) on the ellipse.
(d) Show that FP + PF' = 6. [12 marks]" (Probably on the harder end of FP2.)

*shrugs* Something like that. :biggrin:

And of course you learn loads of new material... but you knew all that.

haha, I like the question you made up, sounds very familiar to one of our exam questions :biggrin:

Reply 5

K..W.Studd

1

This is extremely scary, the way you say it seems they drop you immediately into the deep end.
Surely they work with you a little, show you how to tackle this new sort of question, and then leave you too it? It cant just be a "your at uni so do this" sort of thing, can it?

Reply 6

Totally Tom

18

I think that general is talking from experience.

Cambridge really would be expecting candidates to work much better in an environment like that.

whereas other unis not so much.

Reply 7

Kolya

17

K..W.Studd

This is extremely scary, the way you say it seems they drop you immediately into the deep end.
Surely they work with you a little, show you how to tackle this new sort of question, and then leave you too it? It cant just be a "your at uni so do this" sort of thing, can it?

Please don't get disheartened! Most courses ease you in, and they try to make the transition from A-level to uni Maths as smooth as possible.

To the OP: My exams have portions of memory work, straightforward problems, and some unseen problems.

Reply 8

Feria

2

It's not necessarily deeper in the harder sense. Also, bare in mind when students enter university maths they have come from different boards, some have done further maths, some haven't, some may have taken a gap year. So you will find a lot of the early maths will be to refresh you.

As a mathematician at university, I enjoy it, finally I get to see where things come from, and how things work. It is important to be able to grasp things and be able to pick things up, but these are skills that you will probably have come to realise you either have or haven't through your A-level.

Being left to problems aren't always bad things, if you have to go back, look up your notes and try and figure out a question, it reinforces it a lot better than when you're just given a question that you have to almost replicate one that you did in class. For me, I found it easier to remember things and it feels more satisfiable once I've done questions and exercises ^_^

Reply 9

Simba

16

Dadeyemi

Also with maths would you say you could do a post grad in a lot of different subjects for example doing maths then going in economics or physics or do you just end up teaching (not that that's a bad profession).

I'm sure you could do economics or physics, though you might have to put in some extra work since obviously though some material is common, not all of it is.

University maths is great. There is a huge emphasis on proof from what I've seen (disclaimer: not at uni. myself yet!), but that's not bad - it helps develop good skills that can be transferred to many fields. In fact, I recall reading once that maths graduates are on the whole favoured over accounting graduates when going into accountancy!

Reply 10

Mustard-man

18

I'm doing an Economics degree at the moment, but have 'Linear algebra I' as one of my option units for the first semester. From my experience so far, I have to say that Uni Maths is very different to A-level Maths. I thought A-level Maths was a breeze and that I could easily handle 'Soton Maths' - ABB entry. But I was wrong. I'm perfectly okay when I'm given defined values and have to solve. What I'm having difficulty with is the proving stuff, and there's a lot of it with uni maths, well, at least for Linear algebra :redface:

Lectures are fast; on average I get through 4 sides of A4 paper each lecture. Also, uni study is more independent, so support is limited; that might be a problem especially with Maths... I find it so time consuming :frown:

I'm so glad I didn't choose the Maths version of my course, because, tbh, I would not have coped. But to be fair, I didn't do a full A-level further maths, and even though I got an A in straight Maths (let's face it, the syllabus has been dumbed down so much. In the core modules you don't even have to completely understand the concept in order to answer the question; enough practise means you can easily apply the same process and get full marks), I don't actually think my Maths is great - hence why I'm struggling a bit? :p:

Reply 11

goonerjack

Hey mustard-man, i'm at soton uni and studying straight maths - linear algebra 1 is probably the easiest module to understand that i'm taking! (imagine how the rest of it is!)

I'm not sure what I expected of maths at degree level but i'm struggling and not enjoying it too much - enjoyed a level but things have got a lot more difficult very quickly, and its all much more centred on proofs etc - would definitely recommend having a look at textbooks for uni level before applying!

Reply 12

Mustard-man

18

Hey there

Fair enough dude, but I would have thought Calculus would be easier? It's really just the proof stuff which is incredibly annoying for me. I just hope they don't include much of it in the final exam in Jan. In other words, I just hope the proof stuff is more for understanding.

Reply 13

K..W.Studd

1

Im currently scaring myself silly!

Reply 14

Goodkat

I enjoy maths at university level in general. The wordy proofs become annoying after a while, and mechanics can be a chore at 915 in the morning, but the actual course itself is very enjoyable. It is challenging, but when you understand a concept it is satisfying.

PS, watch out for economists asking for maths help all the time :wink: