MATH

[Different]

Math is probably one of the most intimidating subjects to learn on the higher end of the learning spectrum. You have multiple different ways to solve a math problem, but then your brain is tangled up in (what we think to be) an unbreakable web where solutions aren’t flowing in our direction. Tests, quizzes, exams, and SATS planted fear and anxiety in our hearts because the complexity of the equations forced us to think beyond our intelligence level.

Things like calculus, statistics, linear algebra, topology, and discrete mathematics makes you question whether you have dyscalculia or a learning disability in general. Matrices, vectors, accumulations, data analysis, etc. The average person will generally not accomplish a passing grade with any of these problems/subjects. Everyone else finished and aced their exams… what the hell happened to you? You’re the last one to finish and because you’ve failed, you’ve been demoted to a special needs program where you need “extended time”.

You and math got into the octagon and exchanged blows to see who was the better opponent. In this case, since you’re dealing with a difficult math like calculus, Mike Tyson is the math problem. But because of your inability to understand how to beat him, you squandered an abundance of time figuring out what to do first. So unfortunately math (Mike Tyson) struck you with a few quick jabs, some surprise left and right hooks, and a devastating gut punch. It’s reality telling you that you’re not ready for this fight yet.

I think that it truly takes a gifted, mathematician who’s meticulous and grounded with numbers to succeed in higher levels of mathematics like these. Those subjects are just a subset of subjects that makes you reconsider on taking another major in college or dropping out because unfortunately they’re requirements.

Will we ever use this stuff in the real world outside of college? Yes, but it depends on your occupation. If you’re a business owner, then you should at least acquire the ability to learn probability and statistics because you’re dealing with data, charts, and graphs; you gotta make informed decisions. But if your occupation/major has nothing to do with these advanced math subjects, then you won’t use them at all.

What are your thoughts on math, and what’s the most difficult math subject that you’ve ever taken? The source with the list is subjective which means that levels to this stuff can be viewed differently from various colleges and other people.

SOURCE

Most Difficult Math Levels

FUN FACT

[Delphinoid_]

I honestly think maths is one of the easiest subjects, but high school maths is a truly awful experience. During high school I was terrible enough at it that my teacher told me to give up on extension maths (which I did). I thought it was grindy and not fun or interesting at all. Now I'm doing a PhD in it. Go figure.

For the most part, I found the difficulty of the maths courses I took as an undergrad to be inversely proportional to how much I enjoyed them. I didn't do very well with probability / statistics even though it's generally considered to be one of the easier topics. I found it really uninteresting.

There were two exceptions to this: algebraic geometry and, to a lesser extent, algebraic topology (not to be confused with point-set topology, which I think was easy and so much fun - I think the only easier courses I took were category theory and PDEs). Even though I found them really interesting, those topics are genuinely hard, especially algebraic geometry.

I think algebraic geometry is one of the deepest topics in research level mathematics and it takes a very long time to become comfortable with, but regardless of what you're studying it has a nasty habit of appearing in the background when you least expect it. Roughly speaking, I think of it as the study of certain nice algebraic objects whose global behaviour is captured well by their local behaviour. It appears a lot in my research and I'm currently doing my best to avoid it at all costs, it's way too scary.

[Camer the Dragon]

Fluid mechanics. I would say topology, but I didn't take that one because I was already kinda eh (compared to other topics) at its prerequisites and topology looked like that but way more difficult still.

Maths is epic though, I did an integrated Masters degree (i.e. no Bachelors degree, directly to Masters) at uni and might do PhD in future on it. A PhD is quite different to a Masters and requires a lot of self-motivated commitment.