Algebra Or Calculus?

[BerniePA]

Differentiation Calc... The prof studdered... All I heard all quarter was Dadadadadadadadadadad....

Lee

Sounds familiar -- did you by chance go to Duquesne University?

[Kristofor]

Calculus. But that is probably because my college calculus prof, Ting Lu, did not speak a word of English...

It wasn't Ting Lu, but I had the same issue with all three quarters (of which there were 3 per year) of Calc at the U. That was the extent of my higher education mathematics so I cannot compare to linear algebra or other higher math, but everything in high school was a piece of cake. Calc wasn't too hard either if you could deal with the fact that there are apparently no native english-speakers (or just plain english speakers) teaching it at the local public university.

[stormdog74]

It turns out, that between 1961 and 1964, they had invented "new math" with something called "set systems". It was like the twilight zone. I had to take remedial algebra, before I could advance.

Set Theory is not really a part of new math - at least not in college algebra as it is a standard topic, although not everyone covers it.

New math really wasn't new at all, but rather a misguided attempt to teach higher level math concepts to lower level students. It failed for two reasons - the fact that those teaching it in elementary schools were not mathematically competent and kids that young are not capable of understanding that level of abstraction. Set Theory is not all that complicated once you understand it, although it is by far my least favorite topic. Of course I often say math is a pretty simple subject, it is just not easy...

[billwmeyer]

Math

I understand the communication problem also by experience. I took a class of quantative analysis, and my instructor, Houng Lee, spoke English with a heavy accent. By the time I figured out his first sentance, he was into the next paragraph.

I has problems in math, I took College Algebra in 1968, I took quantative analysis in 1995. In 1968, The highest technology was the slide rule and the rotary calculator. before leaving college in 1970, (after receiving a 4F and getting engauged), I attend a (mandatory) lecture from this guy from Texas Instruments saying how they were about to come out with this device that would add, subtract, multiply and divide and fit into your shirt pocket. It sounded like science fiction to me, because I just paid $99.00 on a ten key from Sears, and it only added and subtracted.

Well the pocket calcultor sure changed math between 1970 and 1990 when I re-entered college. I spent hours studding quant, and I got a D and was tickled to death with it.

Bill

[stormdog74]

Interesting about all the language problems - that is just something we grew to accept as we had a lot of visiting professors. We had this Italian guy who always used to yell at us - and he really threw a fit when someone walked out in the middle of his lecture. And there was this Australian who use to throw erasers at people who annoyed him. So, the guys who did not speak English were the least of our worries!

[BearPipes-1]

My university combined linear algebra + differential equations in a one-semester course. Linear algebra was the easiest math I'd encountered since HS geometry, but I never did understand differential equations ... which unfortunately were essential to nearly every engineering course I was taking.

[stormdog74]

My university combined linear algebra + differential equations in a one-semester course. Linear algebra was the easiest math I'd encountered since HS geometry, but I never did understand differential equations ... which unfortunately were essential to nearly every engineering course I was taking.

That is odd since DE is a lot easier than LA - my guess is that you were not taught a very strong LA course. LA can be taught in a very simple way if you concentrate on matrix manipulations and play down the more rigorous topics.

I have taught both courses for many years and have never had a student claim that LA was easier than calc or DE - it is most definitely the most advanced lower division mathematics class, and essentially the first "real" math class most students encounter.

[shoottx]

I took all of my college math during my first year. Which was the year i carried a 4.0.

That was a BAC not a grade point, so my recollection of the courses would be as you might say a little pie eyed.

I was also of the vintage that spanned the slide rule to TI gap. My first TI (four function) was $140 marked down from $165 at the bookstore because they had just come with the addition of memory to the four functions.