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The real world has a million variables and is hard though
I'll stick to my pureness thanks.
The real world has a million variables and is hard though
I'll stick to my pureness thanks.
Soldato
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The real world has a million variables and is hard though
That sounds like a kop out to me!
Would probably agree with this, I did a degree in Mathematical Physics, which was pretty much split half and half between maths and physics modules.
Most of the maths I did was pretty applied, but degree level pure maths absolutely bored me to tears - luckily I didn't have to do too much of it.
We did a whole module on Fourier analysis and not once did we cover what you may want to actually use it for in the real world, whereas housemates on engineering courses learnt some of the same stuff but from a much more applied perspective.
I loved maths at school, but I know I would find a straight maths degree painfully dull.
Why would you want to do a degree in something you can apply? Ugh. I can think of nothing more dull. You do a degree because you have an interest in the subject and are good at it, not to obtain a piece of paper that makes you eligible for certain jobs.
And pure maths is what creates stuff like this:
Can you seriously tell me that's not beautiful and awesome? All it is is a plot of the roots of polynomials with coefficients 1 and -1, degree <= 24. To have so simple a rule create a thing of such complexity is fantastic. There's no "practical" reason to create such a plot (the whole thing took 4 days to render btw), it's done because it's beautiful and awe inspiring and FUN.
And pure maths is what creates stuff like this:
Can you seriously tell me that's not beautiful and awesome? All it is is a plot of the roots of polynomials with coefficients 1 and -1, degree <= 24. To have so simple a rule create a thing of such complexity is fantastic. There's no "practical" reason to create such a plot (the whole thing took 4 days to render btw), it's done because it's beautiful and awe inspiring and FUN.
not necessarily - though there is huge overlap anyway if you're into applied maths - most of the valuable stuff careers wise can be covered under either 'applied maths' or 'physics' tbh... same difference really
Stats is also in great demand too tbh...
FWIW the most successful hedge fund manager is a mathematician - Jim Simons - has a PhD in 'Mathematics' - earns over a billion a year and is considered one of the most accomplished 'theoretical physicists' alive today.
In answer to the OP - if you like both then chose to study maths formally first tbh...
You can always read literature in your spare time and there is study material out there... and there is nothing stopping you from getting an English degree or taking English courses later.
Maths could obviously be studied alone too but I'd guess you'd benefit more from access to a tutor as it can get quite deep...
You can always read literature in your spare time and there is study material out there... and there is nothing stopping you from getting an English degree or taking English courses later.
Maths could obviously be studied alone too but I'd guess you'd benefit more from access to a tutor as it can get quite deep...
Mind-boggling is good. That's what higher education is for - to boggle your mind, to push you beyond your comfort zone. I also concentrated on the pure side of maths for my degree, and a lot of the material was extremely hard. Some, I never did manage to understand, and the topics I covered are only a minute portion of the collective sum of "human mathematical knowledge". But I don't think there's any doubt that having a degree in pure maths shows you are intelligent.
Oh and I got a pretty cushy job after graduating anyway, all on the strength of a 2:2 in maths.
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Mind-boggling is good. That's what higher education is for - to boggle your mind, to push you beyond your comfort zone. I also concentrated on the pure side of maths for my degree, and a lot of the material was extremely hard. Some, I never did manage to understand, and the topics I covered are only a minute portion of the collective sum of "human mathematical knowledge". But I don't think there's any doubt that having a degree in pure maths shows you are intelligent.
Oh and I got a pretty cushy job after graduating anyway, all on the strength of a 2:2 in maths.
2:2. Means you got 50%. So you didn't half of the tiny amount of maths you learnt. Fills me with pleasure knowing you still got a good job. Not sure what level degree i'm looking at yet really. Obviously the aim is a 1st, but i'll see
.Out of interest, what is your type of job?
2:2. Means you got 50%. So you didn't half of the tiny amount of maths you learnt. Fills me with pleasure knowing you still got a good job. Not sure what level degree i'm looking at yet really. Obviously the aim is a 1st, but i'll see
Out of interest, what is your type of job?
57% actually, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a fantastic feeling to know there's so much more to learn about your chosen subject that you'll never exhaust it in a lifetime.
And it's an aerospace engineering job.
I have a Maths degree (well, Economics & Maths) and found it hard, a big step up from A level. It's definitely not the sort of thing I'd want to study via distance learning as there was some stuff I just couldn't grasp from looking at a text book.
I'm currently doing an MSc in Information Systems with the OU and despite being Postgraduate level, it's noticably easier than my Undergraduate Maths degree was.
I'm currently doing an MSc in Information Systems with the OU and despite being Postgraduate level, it's noticably easier than my Undergraduate Maths degree was.
