Why would one do general math?

[ehtefaz.hedayet]

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Originally Posted by oasfree

Actually I think general math is extremely useful in every day life. I had a look and it has all the stuf you need to do in every day things like working out profit, cost, interest payment, tax, simple statistical prediction, ... I would even recommend that all people who study advanced math should go through general math quickly to get a sense of how practical math can be.

It's true that the big 8 universities would not even accept 2U math in most of their courses that requires math. I don't know if it has changed, but inthe 80s and 90s math is offered as 2 strands in big universities. One strand is pure math and statistics, the other is applied math. At least one of them require 3U math as a prerequisite. Therefore general math (even lower than 2U) would probably not allow HSC students to go on to anything that requires full strength math (offered by math department) in a university.

that is quite based upon society, but it is useful depending on the career aspect like accounting.

Imo i would say 2unit is quite beneficial for every career aspect.

[babikakez]

Originally Posted by oasfree

Therefore general math (even lower than 2U) would probably not allow HSC students to go on to anything that requires full strength math (offered by math department) in a university.

IF YOU'RE DOING GENERAL MATH ITS VERY UNLIKELY YOU WANT TO PURSUE ANYTHING MATH RELATED AT UNI.

sorry for the caps but ffs, get it through your head.

[toby12]

Originally Posted by oasfree

A couple of weeks ago I went to a bookshp and happened to pick up a set of test samples for general mathematics. I was quite surprised by the content. It looked rather easy. So today I went to the BOS site and downloaded the past papers for HSC general math 2006 - 2008. I have not worked through the whole of 2008 paper but I have a feeling that a high performer at year 7 in a selective school could get a very high score on it. When I look at selective school tests for early year 6 (actually end of year 5), some of the questions are very hard and it's unlikely that a HSC student who does well in the general math HSC paper could actually score very well. There are certainly some question type in the HSC paper that a year 7 kid would not have learnt unless the kid learn ahead or from outside the school.

Anyway that makes me wonder. If primary school teachers only do general math when they were at HSC level, it would be very bad. Without math ext1 or higher, students are not allowed to study mathematics at university anyway. So it looks like primary school teachers are unlikely to have anything more than 2U HSC math.

What kind of plans for the future study that some one who does general math would want to pursuit at university? Or perhaps the person just want to stop at the HSC?

ha ha haa.. you must have an awesome life.

[Nikkay75]

I have absolutely no desire to study anything science or maths based at university and I never have. I chose general mathematics so I could just extend a basic knowledge of maths for the future where it might be more practical. I've seen the mathematics 2 unit content and it isn't things you would need to honestly know outside of a maths or science based career. I feel general mathematics contains content that is practical and would be used throughout your life.

[Absolutezero]

I did Extension 1 Maths in high school because it was something I enjoyed (to a degree) and was relatively good at it. However, now that I'm at uni, my usage of the concepts has been countable on one hand. I barely use any of the stuff, in either of my two degrees.

What I believe should be done with the general course, is that it should be more suited for mathematical 'life skills', i.e. The type of maths which has a direct application in life. Things like probability, finance, time/distance etc. That way there is a greater reason for students to pick it, if they have no interest in pursuing it later on.

[cem]

From my experience kids choose subjects at school to get them where they want to go not necessarily because that is the subject they intend on studying furhter once they are there e.g. two kids want to do law - one hates Maths and Science so does 4U English, 2U Modern, 2U Ancient, 2U Legal and aims for an ATAR of 98 while another also wants to do law but strongest subject is Maths so 2U English, 4U Maths, 2U Legal and 2U Japanese also aiming for ATAR 98. Both may very well get their aimed for ATAR and end up at the same uni doing the same course but have played to their strengths to get there.

[r3dn1t3]

Sorry is this guy an idiot?

People do General Maths and still struggle with it, sure its 'easy', but not all people have the skills to do some of the stuff required, you should be shot. Why should teachers be required to do 2U maths? Relevance please, douchebag.

[Got2Kno91]

I agree with others. Some people aren't great at math, but still want to maintain some mathematical challenge/stimulation. I don't think its good to sever ties with all math completely, some degree of numeracy is imporant in everyday life.

Numbers don't lie, I think General Math is 2nd or 3rd most popular subject (after Eng. Ad + Std.)?

[kaz1]

Even if you suck at Maths why would you want to sever ties with one of the most awesome subjects ever?

[Cinnamonster]

My reason for keeping the subject was that it would be weird going to school and not having to do maths. I don't know why, but it was for that reason I kept the subject even though I absolutely hated it.

[addikaye03]

Originally Posted by lyounamu

because it is easy. i am studying general now and it is like taking me 15 minutes to finish the preliminary course

why namu? why not try and study something like reimann surfaces(complex analysis, which extends on complex numbers) or mapping (vectors and matrices) or something?
Surely, any concept in general will be of no use to you.

[DJP92]

Because one sucks at Advanced Math?

[nikilily]

what kind of a loser does this guy think he is...obviously looking for an ego boost (whatever an average year 7 kid could do general math, sure there might be some but...) being a general maths student myself i know that im not dumb, it can be hard, like today i learnt that 1+1=11

[Kakuzu11245]

For me, General Math is incredibly simple and easy, but I do not feel confident in maths, I believe it is better to learn the content of General to an extent where I can get a band 6...

I feel that General Maths really requires no skill of math, you just need to study and you will do well, even if you have no idea what the fuck the topic is on about... for many students im sure that is the case... Also keep in mind some students are very smart at English and other subjects, while bad at Math... but Math is considered essential to some people, I found not doing math rather incomprehensible to me, just because I see my parents use math every day and they encouraged me, they would have also found it extremely strange had I not completed a math course.

Obviously, I have no real interest in any career related to math.

From other peoples perspectives, General math is all you need to do a lot of degrees in building and construction type courses/jobs. Infact its recommended for some... but I truely believe the reason people do General Math is somewhat similar to my own... "I have to do maths but I suck at it"

[Azza16]

lol tbh i dont think theres much wrong with general maths. Yeh sure some of the concepts may be a little easy (eg pythagoras, i remember learning that in year 8 lol) but some kids have trouble with things like that. I wouldnt know for sure, but i think most kids do it simply to feel happy that they did some level of maths in 11 and 12. Sure the course looks easy, but it probably provides kids with basic maths skills that they will probably use in life.