Terrible at Math, Any Hope for Engineering degree?
46 replies, posted
Engineering is math. Lots and lots and lots of math.
It's all about how much you work. But if you just accept yourself as being bad at math, then don't even think about going into engineering.
What kind of maths stuff do you know? Here in NSW, Australia the maths in the 1st Semester of an Engineering uni course is as hard as Extension 2 Maths in the last year of school, which is the hardest course you can do for high school. It deals with Imaginary (complex) numbers, conics, mechanics and the like. I'm currently doing it as i might go into engineering.
Finished my first year of an engineering degree at uni last year, entering my second where from here on I'll be pursuing mechanical engineering.
Just about every first year unit either involved or was pure maths based, so you either have to enjoy it, or have the motivation to work at it.
[QUOTE=Little Green;19695597]Finished my first year of an engineering degree at uni last year, entering my second where from here on I'll be pursuing mechanical engineering.
Just about every first year unit either involved or was pure maths based, so you either have to enjoy it, or have the motivation to work at it.[/QUOTE]
What uses does Complex numbers have in Engineering? I've always wondered
From what I've gathered, complex numbers are used a lot in electrical engineering, but not much in the other fields. Analysing some circuits is simplified by using phasors, which requires you to use and manipulate complex numbers.
First year involves covering the raw basics of a wide scope of engineering fields, so you could end up using them elsewhere, that's just what I know so far :)
Cheers for the info!
[editline]03:41AM[/editline]
Back to polynomials involving complex numbers homework. Not that it's a bad thing <3
Im having the exact same problem, i blame the teachers for making the tests impossible.
I don't think your bad at math, you just need to pay attention in class and do ALL your homework.
and understand it while doing it
[QUOTE=GunsNRoses;19695710]Cheers for the info!
[editline]03:41AM[/editline]
Back to polynomials involving complex numbers homework. Not that it's a bad thing <3[/QUOTE]
Oh god I remember those, fun times were had hahaha
If you enjoy your maths/physics, then you'll have a blast in engineering :D
And you're right about the difficulty, if you can get through the hardest maths in high school then you should be fine for eng. First year maths units involves a lot of going over things you've already been taught and taking them a bit further, not much of it is completely new. I found it pretty cruisy compared to top level high school maths! Nowhere near as much pressure, and you're not royally fucked if you miss a few classes haha
also bear in mind all this info is coming from someone at UWA in Western Aus, it could be quite different in NSW but I'd imagine reasonably similar.
Haha, sounds good. Sounds like you're enjoying uni. I'm going to have to figure out what course i want to get into this year. Do you find there's much creativity in what you are doing? I might see if i can do architecture as well as engineering for a creative side to things.
[QUOTE=GunsNRoses;19695945]Haha, sounds good. Sounds like you're enjoying uni. I'm going to have to figure out what course i want to get into this year. Do you find there's much creativity in what you are doing? I might see if i can do architecture as well as engineering for a creative side to things.[/QUOTE]
So far it looks like what you do in eng is fairly restricted. We've only had one unit where we were put into groups and had to come up with an engineering solution to a problem faced by disadvantaged people in Cambodia (it's a national comp each year, look up engineers without borders challenge), but everyone hated that unit with a passion.
You may be given more freedom and creative opportunities later on, perhaps in third year onwards, but I can't say. If you want creativity in your studies then pursuing a double degree would probably be a good idea. I'm doing a double with computer science which I'm enjoying, it provides that outlet to actually create something during my studies.
Well, let me put it this way. I used to be fuckin amazing at high school math (%98 math 12). Now im finishing my second year and i'm just average...
Its all about understanding the formula and remembering it.
I'm pretty good at maths, passed every test last year.
The issue is that all the teachers i've had have taught the formula. I'm the sort of person who needs to understand what each component of a formula does to effect the outcome.
[QUOTE=Rofl-my-Waff;19693831]follow your dreams and anything can happen!!!!![/QUOTE]
Not in Canada.
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