Why anybody would want to get a bachelor degree in math is a mystery. When you think about it, when you get out of college with a bachelor degree in math, what can you possibly do with it besides teach? You’re certainly not prepared for any practical applications. Sure, you could get a job as an actuary but is that REALLY why you majored in math in the first place? Well, for those of you who still want to get a bachelor degree in math, hang onto your hats because the ride you’re in for is far from easy. What follows is pretty much what you can expect to go through.
Math is probably one of the hardest disciplines anybody could possibly want to go through. The math courses alone are so hard that no other courses are needed to make your four years of college a living nightmare. Think we’re kidding? Take a look at just the math curriculum itself and then decide if this is something that you think you can tackle with no sweat.
Your first two semesters of college math throw you right into the fire. This is where you learn Calculus. The courses are usually Calculus I and II. Calculus is probably one of the most difficult courses ever devised by man. How anybody even thought of this stuff is a puzzle. Talk about math that you’re never going to use in your life unless you become a scientist or an engineer.
Your next two semesters, or year two, give you a break from calculus. This is where you take Advanced, or Abstract Algebra. This is where you learn about matrixes and things like that. This is more math that you’re never going to use as long as you live. Engineers don’t even use most of this stuff.
Now you’ve reached year three and you’re back to Calculus again. This is where you finish up your training in Calculus with Calculus III and IV. The concepts in these courses are so abstract and so far removed from any real world math, you’d have to be a near genius to understand this stuff.
By year four, if you’re still a math major, you’re down to what they call “Independent Research” where you basically are on your own, but under the guidance of your advisor. You’ll do some kind of major paper on math principals or maybe even Newton for all you know. The good thing is, what you write on is up to you. The bad thing is it has to be approved by your advisor.
And if all of this isn’t bad enough, you’ve only taken 8 of your 32 courses. You still have 24 more courses to fill in your time with. Because you’ve chosen one of the science majors, you’re also going to have to take at least two semesters of either chemistry, physics or some other related science. Yes, we are talking about some more ridiculously hard material.
So if you really want to be a math major, just remember one thing. You will most certainly earn your bachelor degree in math. If you survive it.
By: Michael Russell
Posts Tagged ‘Scientist’
Bachelor Degree – Math
March 10th, 2010Mathematics in Banking – Compound Interest
August 15th, 2009NO banking WITHOUT Mathematics.
Many of you would have learned about Simple interest and compound interest in your middle school. Simple interest is seldom used in practice. The concept of compound interest is used in banks and many financial institutions.
Let’s begin with the definition of “interest”.
Interest is a fee paid for a loan or an amount of money borrowed from a bank or other financial institution. Banks pay interest on money deposited by customers.
There are two types of interest, simple interest and compound interest.
Simple Interest
Simple interest is the interest paid only on the original principal. Simple interest is quite easy to calculate.
The simple interest formula is I = PRT
Where
I – simple interest
P – Principal or the initial amount of money that was invested or borrowed
R – Rate of interest as a decimal
T – Time
Compound Interest
Compound interest involves paying interest upon interest. That is, compound interest is the interest calculated on the accrued unpaid interest and on the original principal.
Compound Interest is a bit more complicated than Simple Interest.
The compound interest formula is:
A = P (1 + R) ^T, if the interest is compounded once a year
A = P [1 + (R/N)] ^NT, if the interest is compounded ‘N’ times a year
Where
A – Amount = Principal + interest
P – Principal or the initial amount of money that was invested or borrowed
R – Rate of interest as a decimal
T – Time
When you deposit money in the bank, always choose the account that offers you compound interest. You would make a little more money with the compound interest account than the simple interest account.
Albert Einstein, the great scientist once quoted: “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He, who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it”.
Let’s look at a couple of examples:
Mrs. Green deposited $5000 for 5 years at 4% simple interest. Calculate the amount of interest Mrs. Green will get back at the end of 5 years.
Let’s use the simple interest formula: I = PRT
Here: P = $5000, R = 4% = 0.04, T = 5 years
I = PRT = 5000 × 0.04 × 5 = 1000
So, Mrs. Green will receive $1000 at the end of 5 years.
Mrs. Green deposited $5000 for 5 years at 4% compounded quarterly. Calculate the amount of interest Mrs. Green will get back at the end of 5 years.
There are 4 quarters in a year. So, the interest is compounded 4 times a year.
Let’s use the compound interest formula: A = P[1 + (R/N)]^NT
Here: P = $5000, R = 4% = 0.04, N = 4, T = 5 years
A = P [1 + (R/N)] ^NT = 5000[1 + (0.04/4)] ^ (4×5) = 5000(1 + 0.01)^20 = 5000(1.01)^20 = 6100.95
So, Mrs. Green will receive $6100.95 – $5000 = $1100.95 at the end of 5 years.
Notice that Mrs. Green makes a little more money with compound interest.
Banks and other financial institutions use compound interest to calculate how much interest to be charged on a loan amount and how much interest to be paid on money deposited by customers.
The more frequent the compounding, the more money you can make.
The longer you allow your money to remain in the account, the greater is the final amount you receive.
By: chandrajeet
List of Online Mathematics Courses for Engineering and Mca Students
August 14th, 2009re you feeling burden of learning mathematics, Yes then here are the list of great online course of engineering mathematics. This course will definitely made your engineering and MCA easy. Mathematics is the tool specially suited for dealing with abstract concepts of any kind and there is no limit to its power in this field. Good new is that no fees, no registration required for this courses. so go and find your way with this urls.
What is Mathematics
Mathematics is said to be study of quanities and relations through the use of numbers and symbols.
What is Engineering
Simply Engineering Is the practical application of science to commerce or industry. More complexly while scientist is to know, the engineer to do, that is he brings this knowledge from science to solve practical problems. Engineering also differs from science in that it must take requirements into account including costs, safety, performance and limitations on resources.
History of Engineering
It is assumed that the first engineer was “imhotep” building one of the famous pyramids in 2550 BC. Through out history including the Wonders of the ancient world, exemplify engineering achievements as some of these structures a still standing today. These include the Colleseum, Aqueducts , Pyramids etc.
Areas in Maths and Engineering
The maths and engineering umbrella is very wide and each area is fundamentally important because engineering uses mathematical fundamentals in the calculations of their projects.
For detail of this article please visit the below blog:
Free Engineering Guide: Free Online Matematics Tutorials
By: Free Engineering Guide
