(Difficult)
The most difficult part of the lecture for me was in Chapter 1, on page 8. Here the author was talking about measuring the size of numbers, comparing the magnitude of a number and the number of digits in the number. The wording in this section is hard to follow for me. Specifically the phrase "An algorithm that runs in time a power of log n is much more desirable than one that runs in time a power of n." I was able to eventually grasp the rest of the paragraph, but this particular phrase is still confusing to me.
(Reflective)
In reading chapter three I was most interested in the division in modular arithmetic, and the use of a multiplicative inverse for division. In past classes, when dealing with modular arithmetic, we never touched on modular division. Most classes simply teach that you can't do it, or it only works in certain cases, and therefore we won't bother with it. It was nice to finally learn when it was applicable, that being when the modulo and the divisor are relatively prime.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Introduction, due on Sept. 1st
What is your year in school and major?
I am a senior, majoring in mathematics.
Which post-calculus math courses have you taken?
I have taken ordinary differential equations, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, abstract algebra, and survey of geometry.
Why are you taking this class?
I am taking this class as an elective for my major (mathematics). I am also considering cryptography as a future career path. I first became interested in cryptography when we talked about it in abstract algebra.
Do you have experience with maple, programming,etc.?
I have taken a programming class in Java, and a intro class for programming in assembly, binary, and C. I have used maple sparingly in classes, only for constructing graphs of complex functions.
Most effective/least effective math teacher?
My most effective math teacher was Doctor Forcade. I took abstract algebra from him about a year ago and learned a great deal from his class.
What did he do that worked so well?
Th most effective part of his teaching was to encourage students to expand their knowledge on their own. He was always willing to help, and give hints on work, but ultimately he would assign us work that would require us to go back and review previous sections in the book and dig deep in our understanding of the material to find a solution to the problem. He also believed strongly that there was always an easier, more efficient way to construct a proof or solve a problem, and that it was worth it to spend the time to find the simplified solution rather than using brute force.
Something interesting about myself?
I love the outdoors. We go camping every summer, and we go off-roading and shooting year round. There's nothing more fun than driving through 2 feet of snow in a Jeep or ATV.
I am a senior, majoring in mathematics.
Which post-calculus math courses have you taken?
I have taken ordinary differential equations, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, abstract algebra, and survey of geometry.
Why are you taking this class?
I am taking this class as an elective for my major (mathematics). I am also considering cryptography as a future career path. I first became interested in cryptography when we talked about it in abstract algebra.
Do you have experience with maple, programming,etc.?
I have taken a programming class in Java, and a intro class for programming in assembly, binary, and C. I have used maple sparingly in classes, only for constructing graphs of complex functions.
Most effective/least effective math teacher?
My most effective math teacher was Doctor Forcade. I took abstract algebra from him about a year ago and learned a great deal from his class.
What did he do that worked so well?
Th most effective part of his teaching was to encourage students to expand their knowledge on their own. He was always willing to help, and give hints on work, but ultimately he would assign us work that would require us to go back and review previous sections in the book and dig deep in our understanding of the material to find a solution to the problem. He also believed strongly that there was always an easier, more efficient way to construct a proof or solve a problem, and that it was worth it to spend the time to find the simplified solution rather than using brute force.
Something interesting about myself?
I love the outdoors. We go camping every summer, and we go off-roading and shooting year round. There's nothing more fun than driving through 2 feet of snow in a Jeep or ATV.
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