I've officially started my graduate education. Yes, MATH CAMP started today. Yes, math camp. It's like summer camp for the super nerdy as it has been pointed out to me. What's striking is that I feel I can do the math... I'm just bad at understanding verbalized or written math. Here's what I remember of today's lecture, paraphrasing of course:
Prof: We'll be working with the real number set which is written with a capital R. In your book, it's a bold R. Also, sometimes we write it in cursive R. Although you'll also see this (an R with two vertical lines). (this takes about two minutes)Prof (cont'd): Vectors are written as a variable. "X". It could also be shown as X1,X2,...,Xn. You can think of them as vertical columns when there are operations to be done.
Prof: Additive inverse... (he means subtracting)
Prof: The inner product is also known as a dot product. Some will refer to this as a scalar product.
Prof: "None negative" is different from "strictly positive". "Strictly negative" is different from "none positive".
Prof: Lenght of x is also equal to the norm of x. People can't agree what to call it sometimes. (oh, really?!?!)
Prof: Make sure you differentiate between a function and the values or the set that represents the function; the level of utility from the utility function. As this may lead to confusion. (which leaves me confused)
For a maybe, kind of, somewhat, sort of mind I have, math can be a bit hellish. You mean close enough isn't?
On the bright side. The people seem cool. People who I had a chance to talk are from all over the place. I remember that Nebraska, UCLA, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Uruguay and Japan are all represented. Good news also came that I may be able choose between being an RA for Scott Rozelle, the China development economics guy that got me interested in coming to Davis in the first place, and TAing for microeconomics. The TA job might be a scheduling conflict with one of the classes I need to take, but I think that'll be worked out soon.
Comments (4)
Looks like you stayed up way past your bedtime with this post... Wow, you've officially become a grad student, congratulations! I still say you're super nerdy for going to math camp a month before school starts, but that's okay with me. I don't think I could sit through 2 hours of math lecture, 3 times a week to review stuff I've already taken. From your little excerpts of the lecture, I would have either fallen asleep or walked out of the class extremely confused. Why can't math professors just speak English? I think they try to confuse us on purpose, what other reason is there? Oh, and congratulations on your offer to be a research assistant to Scott Rozelle, I know you really wanted to work with him.
Posted by lisa | September 4, 2003 5:56 AM
Posted on September 4, 2003 05:56
Teddy! Math bootcamp eh? That's essential for all non liberal arts graduate school I guess? I know you can do it! you are very smart--so jia you!
=)
Helen
Posted by Helen | September 4, 2003 10:04 AM
Posted on September 4, 2003 10:04
Teddy, exciting,isn't it? Hope you enjoy Davis, hope you enjoy Math--> well, this might be hard simply judging from the excerpts of your class. I know you wanna work with Prof. Rozzelle, but I'd take the other job in a blink. You can meet a lot of undergrads and can potentially be invited to their parties! I know I know I know.. academics is more important, but...
Posted by shendovski | September 5, 2003 6:23 PM
Posted on September 5, 2003 18:23
Wow Teddy. Have you started doing logarithm brain teasers for fun with the other students yet? Oh and watch out, I've heard of this thing called the "wedgy." Larger "mathmatically challenged" students preform it on those with the ability to actually add and subtract. It might sound harmless, but with enough of them, it could really affect your ability to memorize pi to the thousandth decimal point.
Posted by marc | September 7, 2003 12:59 AM
Posted on September 7, 2003 00:59