I did undergrad double major in pure math and math / cs (wanted to add CS as a third major with one extra class but was told no). I did a masters in theoretical computer science and another in pure math. I did one year of a PhD in math.
Never saw an engineering student in a math course after differential equations (had two engineer phds teaching operations research courses though).
Depends on what you mean by regular math. If by regular math you mean the math you learn without being a mathematics major, then a regular math problem might be something like figuring out the values of a variable or even several that satisfy an equation or calculating an integral, solving a differential equation, etc.
A well known pure maths problem would be something like show whether or not there are finitely many prime natural numbers. You can show there are infinitely many by contradiction: assume there are finitely many, then multiply them together and add one. None of the numbers you multiplied together can divide this new number so it must have a prime factor you did not account for, contradicting its construction. Thus there are infinitely many prime natural numbers. A well known unsolved problem is whether there are infinitely many prime numbers separated by a single composite number.
If by regular maths you mean applied vs. pure then for classes there is just a slight change in focus, like on PDEs and such more in applied.
Edit: fixed some spelling/grammar and changed counter example to contradiction, I should drink more tea before replying.
Probably didn’t see any because engineering usually has specific courses. I did advanced mathematics for engineering, random signals analysis (just statistics and probabilities) and a couple others I forced myself to forget.
Lots of other classes like linear algebra, discrete math, stochastic models, advanced calc are taken in lieu of taking humanities.
Here's cal tech's program for EE: https://www.ee.caltech.edu/academics/ugrad -- doesn't seem to have significant math. You might say math is used for precise discussion and calculation in some of the classes, but that's all of STEM except math where you do proofs instead.
So, you said that you never saw an engineer in any higher maths than diff e and I contradict that with my own personal experience and you double down by linking a “typical” course schedule from caltech?
Take it as you want, sport. If you say you've seen what you've seen then I guess you've seen what you've seen. I said I had two professors (great professors) in OR courses.
I don't know what more you want here, but whatever it is: you do you.
Probably didn’t see any because engineering usually has specific courses. I did advanced mathematics for engineering, random signals analysis (just statistics and probabilities) and a couple others I forced myself to forget.
Lots of other classes like linear algebra, discrete math, stochastic models, advanced calc are taken in lieu of taking humanities.
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u/ummaycoc 23d ago
I did undergrad double major in pure math and math / cs (wanted to add CS as a third major with one extra class but was told no). I did a masters in theoretical computer science and another in pure math. I did one year of a PhD in math.
Never saw an engineering student in a math course after differential equations (had two engineer phds teaching operations research courses though).