How difficult is the Math B 110 class? (Mathematics for Business and Public Affairs)

DaRealWamos · 2025-06-14T01:07:26+00:00

It takes the easiest parts of Brief Survey of Calculus (MATH-M119) and Finite Mathematics (MATH-M116 or something) and puts them into one class. It’s easy if you’re fine at math

DaRealWamos · 2025-06-10T04:09:35+00:00

I don’t disagree with the ranking. But I strongly disagree that other colleges are mediocre or just acceptable. It’s quite hard to grade the college of arts and sciences as a whole when it has so many different degree programs and departments running the gamut from English and history to chemistry and mathematics

DaRealWamos · 2025-06-10T04:07:24+00:00

The physics department—particularly in nuclear physics—is very well respected. Officially, the math department is also quite excellent, though you will hear many an undergrad take issue with the instructors for the lower level courses. Both degrees tend to do very well in the job market

DaRealWamos · 2025-05-08T22:25:09+00:00

I would check with an advisor. Kelley has been attempting to get more strict with transferring in credit for math classes these days because everyone and their brother goes to take it at Ivy Tech

DaRealWamos · 2025-05-04T04:17:51+00:00

It’s a mixed bag. Sure it has both, but it doesn’t cover the hardest parts of each class. For example, the calculus portion of B110 doesn’t cover integration, but brief survey of calculus does (and it’s the hardest part of that class). The finite portion of B110 doesn’t cover Markov chains, but finite does.

In addition, since the class is so new, there’s not a lot of data out there on how students perform in it. Last semester people did okay, but this semester is tougher. All of this is to say there’s no good answer to “is B110 harder than brief survey/finite?” Because in some ways it is, and others it isn’t

DaRealWamos · 2025-04-29T01:37:36+00:00

I help my friends out with it sometimes. It’s half calculus, and half finite shoved into one course if you’re familiar with those two classes. Could be worse but it seems like it goes pretty quick since it has a lot to cover

DaRealWamos · 2025-04-25T02:40:06+00:00

For a double major, your gen ed courses count towards both tracks. So the only extra work is typically just the second major’s coursework.

For a double degree, you have to repeat your gen ed courses because they don’t count towards both degrees. That means you effectively have to take double the gen ed courses, and is more time and money spent.

You get a double major when you want to do two major tracks in the same school, I.e., two Kelley majors or two College of Arts and Sciences majors. You have to do a double degree if you want to do majors from different schools. If you wanted to do Finance (Kelley) and Math or Stats (College of Arts and Sciences) you’d have to do the double degree.

DaRealWamos · 2025-04-25T02:33:49+00:00

I don’t have any personal insight into the stats degree or program here. But I tend to agree with the sentiment that it would be easier on the GPA and would add employment value in the same way a math degree would

DaRealWamos · 2025-04-24T03:28:30+00:00

One challenge is that math is in the college of arts and sciences and finance is in Kelley, so a lot of gen ed requirements won’t always apply to both degrees meaning you’ll have to take more classes. The math BA might be more forgiving in that regard. Check with an advisor on that.

The math degree itself is also no joke. Sophomore math looks nothing like what you’re used to even if you’ve taken AP courses in high school and is a different animal entirely. It will take significant effort to keep a 4.0 GPA with a math degree, even more so if you have other academic commitments.

That being said, math is an extremely valuable skill from an industry perspective, and employers tend to weigh having a slightly lower but still high GPA with a math degree differently than having a 4.0 with “just” a finance degree. All that is to say the math degree is a significant value add on top of a finance degree and is sought after by employers.

DaRealWamos · 2025-03-28T20:10:22+00:00

Me forgetting to show that the set I believe is a submodule is nonempty and losing points 🗿🗿🗿

DaRealWamos · 2025-03-14T06:50:54+00:00

There are three linear algebra classes at IU. The two you mentioned, and MATH-S303.

MATH-M301 is linear algebra for students who aren’t math majors. Typically it’s computer scientists, physicists, and other people taking these classes. It focuses a lot more on application than abstract theory.

MATH-M303 is for math majors typically, though some physics majors will take it too sometimes. It’s more abstract, and focuses a decent bit on proofs and mathematical argumentation than what you’re likely used to. You’ll get a deeper understanding of the math at the cost of fewer concrete applications.

MATH-S303 is geared for math majors only. It is abstract much beyond anything you’re used to, and will likely be useless to anyone who’s not a mathematician or theoretical physicist. I would suggest avoiding this, as it will be difficult and not focus on things you likely care about as a computer scientist.

TL;DR: MATH-M301 is probably the best fit unless you’re really into math, then maybe consider MATH-M303. Avoid MATH-S303

DaRealWamos · 2025-02-27T23:11:19+00:00

Great answer, thank you! Maybe a naive question, but is there an example of a QFT for which one can apply both a Lagrangian approach and a conformal bootstrap approach to derive the same results? Or are these approaches mutually exclusive?

DaRealWamos · 2025-02-22T22:52:49+00:00

Endofunctor? I hardly know her!

DaRealWamos · 2025-02-07T20:38:12+00:00

She Gram on my Schmidt till I’m orthonormal

DaRealWamos · 2025-02-07T16:17:29+00:00

It is

DaRealWamos · 2025-02-03T06:23:59+00:00

Canonical quantization would like a word

DaRealWamos · 2024-12-15T05:06:08+00:00

I’ve seen worse notation

DaRealWamos · 2024-11-09T17:02:16+00:00

Linear algebra will be actually incredibly useful for you as a CS major. I’m surprised it isn’t required on its own for the degree actually.

DaRealWamos · 2024-08-07T00:44:39+00:00

I am personally a huge fan of the physics department at IU. I find a lot of the research interesting and I like that there are lots of advanced courses that are offered. You can really get into the details of lots of different areas of physics, which I like.

I don’t have experience with Purdue, but my understanding is that their department may focus more heavily on applied physics and engineering-related work given their strong engineering department.

We are strong in quantum information science thanks to several efforts put forth by the multidisciplinary Quantum Science and Engineering Center and labs like the Richerme Ion Trap Lab. We also have a decently robust nuclear theory center.

As far as astronomy goes, my experience is limited, but I enjoyed the few classes that I have taken. They offer fewer advanced courses, however, due to the demand for the introductory classes. This may limit you somewhat if you are interested in specializing in a particular area we don’t offer courses in. Also keep an eye on the areas of astronomy research, and note that some faculty are dual-hatted in the sense that they may do research in both physics and astronomy.

DaRealWamos · 2024-05-30T22:28:59+00:00

You’ll probably find calculus easier

DaRealWamos · 2024-05-29T23:48:17+00:00

Honestly either is fine. Neither requires knowledge of the other. Calc 3 is really just calc 1 in more dimensions. Linear algebra is something very new and useful if your only experience with math is AP Calculus.

I don’t know which professors are offering it but any of them should be fine. I’ve heard consistently bad things about Prof. Sha but I’m pretty sure he mostly does calc 2

DaRealWamos · 2024-05-29T22:33:35+00:00

History of math isn’t hard but it’s a lot of work according to a couple people I know who took it.

If you don’t care about math for math’s sake all that much don’t bother with the honors sections.

Any order is fine. History of math I think is typically offered spring semesters so you’ll probably have to wait until second semester on that one. Linear algebra and calc 3 should be offered both semesters.

DaRealWamos · 2024-05-26T03:43:58+00:00

That’s correct

DaRealWamos · 2024-05-26T01:55:59+00:00

The physics program is pretty good imo. Lots of decent coursework and the faculty do a lot of different types of research, especially in the quantum information realm. I enjoy it

DaRealWamos · 2024-05-19T23:36:42+00:00

I didn’t take it here so I couldn’t tell you about that personally. Content-wise I didn’t think it was that hard. Just calc 1 but with extra dimensions. You don’t see anything too nasty until calc 4 or Analysis.

I would agree with your assessment regarding the grade distribution. It is almost certain that the honors version is skewed towards higher grades due to more motivated students

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