So, to take Real Analysis in the fall I have to take MA 225 over the summer because it is a pre-req.
I am likely going to be working full-time. So I am wondering, how hard is this class?

I mean, I figure since its 200 level it can't be that tough, but I've been wrong before.

Can anyone who has taken this before give me some feed back on whether taking it over the summer while working is a good idea?

5/7/2010 4:25:52 PM

Looks very easy:

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~erpeters/hwk/MA225_HWK.html
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~schecter/ma_225_fa04/sdygd.html
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~bishir/MA225_Sample_Tests.html
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~bishir/MA225_Sample_Final_Exam.html
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~bishir/MA225_Course_Review.html
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~aszanto/MA225/index_files/Page455.htm
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~chandler/Ma225.html

Sounds very easy too:

Quote :

"MA 225 Foundations of Advanced Mathematics Introduction to mathematical proof with focus on properties of the real number system. Elementary symbolic logic, mathematical induction, algebra of sets, relations, functions, countability. Algebraic and completeness properties of the reals."

[Edited on May 7, 2010 at 4:44 PM. Reason : ]

5/7/2010 4:43:18 PM

im taking it this summer too. scroggs said it would be easy over the summer.

5/7/2010 7:00:19 PM

What is your background? Have you ever seen set theory, induction, proof by contradiction? I never took MA 225 but took MA 425 and it wasn't bad, but I had seen the MA 225 material in other classes. Either way this class shouldn't be that bad if you are a reasonably good student.

5/8/2010 12:22:04 PM

^ I thought MA 225 was a pre-req for 425.
http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/reg_records/crs_cat/MA.html

If not I might just audit the course or take it pass-fail, because I have never really seen the material before and could really use an introduction but dont need the stress of grades.

5/9/2010 3:04:30 AM

^I took as a grad student in statistics so the prereq wasn't enforced. The undergrads in MA 425 made it seem like MA 225 wasn't very tough. Also, when you take MA 425 try to do it with Dr. Martin if at all possible.

5/9/2010 9:13:24 AM

I found it hard with I took it with Paur, ended up dropping it and took it the next semester with a grad student teaching and did really well. With these types of classes it depends on who is teaching it and how you learn. For me it didn't click the first time I saw that type of material but the second time it made perfect sense.

5/9/2010 4:32:24 PM

It's easy. It's one of those classes you get better with as you use it in other classes.

5/9/2010 6:57:09 PM

I'm taking MA 225 first summer session. I hope it isn't too bad

5/9/2010 11:00:40 PM

^with who?

5/23/2010 10:05:08 PM

There is only one section now. I thought they were both almost full but then they combined us. I'm thinking one of the profs decided not to teach.

5/24/2010 1:12:07 AM

I took 225 with a grad student, it was good. It's going to be as hard as the teacher makes it. If they just scratch the surface, it's cake, but if they get in depth, it can be difficult if you haven't ever experienced anything like it before. It will definitely help with arguing in the soap box I thought it was a fantastic class, one of my favorites. I took 425 with Paur and loved it too, then took 426 with Franke and the glitter wore off.

5/26/2010 3:11:20 PM

can someone who went to class today PLEASE scan and email me their notes? my body boycotted Fulp this morning by sleeping through 3 alarms. almelton (at) ncsu (dot) edu

5/27/2010 10:46:57 AM

this was one of the easier classes i took at NCSU

the biggest thing i got out of this class was a date with my study partner

5/27/2010 10:55:00 AM

Also, if anyone could tell me what homework he assigned today, that would be even more helpful...

5/27/2010 6:38:36 PM

This is definitely a Keystone course, one you really need to allow yourself plenty of time for. It's not really that difficult to pass or even get an A but this course has the potential to be a major synapse upgrade for you if you let it. I took this class after like 400 level Physics classes and I was easily able to make it difficult for myself. You can simply memorize solutions or you can honestly learn how to think about and solve them, just like ole Algebra. I remember many many courses I was able to enjoy and be more efficient in because I had a strong Algebra background. Well this course is like that too but for Pure Mathematics. (I didn't take any Pure Math after this course, lol) Dr. Fauntleroy once explained to us that: "Most people have the perception of Mathematicians as solitary and that they struggle with a single problem until they solve it but this is absolutely not the case."

6/6/2010 4:15:43 AM

Thanks for the tips all. Based on comments like ^ I am excited about the class. However, I am still worried about my potential grade.

Since I am technically a grad student, I am thinking about seeing if I can just take MA 225 for credit only or maybe even audit it. I want to take the course because I want to be prepared for Real Analysis (MA 445), but I figure there is no reason killing myself to get a great grade in a class that wont show up in my GPA.

Does anyone know who I should talk to about that?

6/9/2010 10:40:49 AM

You can probably do this. Most of my fellow grad students audited analysis because it was a prereq for further courses. Talk to your departmental advisor.

I really think that you would be OK in MA 425 without MA 225, especially if you take Dr. Martin. If you can do algebra and qualitatively understand some abstract concepts you will be fine.

6/9/2010 12:20:04 PM

^ I would disagree.

You could do fine in 425 without 225, but to really get the most out of 425, you need the mindset that 225 puts you in. If all you've had before this is calculus and undergrad linear algebra, 425 won't even look like a math course to you. If you approach it in the same way that you approached calculus (memorizing when to apply certain procedures), you'll probably do ok, but you'll miss out on the real beauty of the class. Like jcgolden said, 225 has the potential to be a major synapse upgrade, and you'll want this higher level thinking to apply to 425, even if you don't need to to get the A..

6/9/2010 3:33:20 PM

^agreed

6/9/2010 4:51:15 PM

I guess that could be true. I had discrete math and automata theory as an undergrad, which is roughly a surrogate for MA 225. I know people who had never seen it before though, and were fine conceptually and academically.

6/9/2010 5:19:21 PM

Well, when I took Ma 425, I sure was thankful that I took Ma 225.

6/9/2010 11:43:03 PM

How did it turn out? I'm debating taking it first summer session.

5/15/2011 1:12:16 PM

MA 225 was MUCH EASIER than I thought it would be (my prof said on the first day it would be "the second hardest math class you take as an undergrad"). I was able to get an A- while working full time without much effort and I am NOT that good at math (of course i only took it for credit only so getting the A didn't matter ).

But, at the same time, the things you learn are actually pretty useful. I wouldn't have wanted to take 425 without it. Like everyone else said earlier in the thread, it really helps put you into a more abstract mindset.

[Edited on May 15, 2011 at 8:37 PM. Reason : ``]

5/15/2011 8:28:01 PM

so you meant:

Quote :

"(of course i only took it for credit only so getting the A didn't matter )"

5/16/2011 5:11:34 AM

^ yes

5/16/2011 1:21:12 PM

Just took the final.

That wasn't a bad math class for summer school.

6/27/2011 4:09:51 PM

Got a B.

6/28/2011 2:48:25 PM