How did you get past MACM 101? Either way, they were both hard courses...201 I got my lowest mark in university, but at least I passed barely!
Do the assignments (if you can), but ask for help at the workshop as much as you can. Some TAs are more helpful than others, so stick to the good ones. Other than that, there's not much you can do right?
It's been only 3 lectures and I am already totally lost >_<
I hear you..
MACM 201 is going to KILL me!
MACM 101 was a piece of cake.. but 201? I don't know if it's just this prof or if I should have taken some other course first, but I'm so confused during lectures. (for example, the ridiculous "chess" question last class)
The prof seems to teach as if everyone understands the material without any problems.. I get the feeling I'm missing a course prerequisite or something.
segadcsonic, I did well in MACM 101 but it was so much easier than 201. I'll try to follow your advice. Thanks!
Ether, I think exactly the same-it's either prof or there should be some other course in between 101 and 201. Sometimes I don't even understand the notation she uses =(
The prof seems to teach as if everyone understands the material without any problems..
True, but I don't understand >.< - even when I preread the material - I don't understand what prof is teaching. Who was your prof in 101?
I think one of the problems with 201 is that the prof writes so fast I can barely keep up with the notes and I definitely can't be thinking about the concepts. I would much rather have the notes and be paying attention to the concepts (which, in my opinion, are pretty difficult).
Don't worry about it, everyone are doing even worst. I remember my the CLASS AVERAGE for second MACM 201 midterm was 3.5 out of 20. Yes! 3.5 out of 20=17.5%, I still laugh to this day when I think about it.
Don't worry about it, everyone are doing even worst. I remember my the CLASS AVERAGE for second MACM 201 midterm was 3.5 out of 20. Yes! 3.5 out of 20=17.5%, I still laugh to this day when I think about it.
Holy crap. I've heard of failing class averages before, but... just... wow.
Yeah, I'm taking MACM 201 too. The midterm was seriously brutal--if my mark turns out to be as low as I expect it to be, I think I'm going to drop the course. It sucks to have a WD permanently stamped onto my transcript, but I'm not willing to let my GPA suffer the blow of an F grade. (Last day for dropping classes through goSFU is October 9th, in case anyone was wondering.)
The prof seems pleasant enough but, like Ether already mentioned, she writes so fast that it's extremely difficult to keep up with note-taking, let alone process what it is that she's attempting to explain. Her class would be a lot more bearable if she posted the notes on WebCT or used PowerPoint slides.
Holy crap. I've heard of failing class averages before, but... just... wow.
Yeah, I'm taking MACM 201 too. The midterm was seriously brutal--if my mark turns out to be as low as I expect it to be, I think I'm going to drop the course. It sucks to have a WD permanently stamped onto my transcript, but I'm not willing to let my GPA suffer the blow of an F grade. (Last day for dropping classes through goSFU is October 9th, in case anyone was wondering.)
The prof seems pleasant enough but, like Ether already mentioned, she writes so fast that it's extremely difficult to keep up with note-taking, let alone process what it is that she's attempting to explain. Her class would be a lot more bearable if she posted the notes on WebCT or used PowerPoint slides.
If you can equal or better the average of exams, you shouldn't drop MACM 201. If your major requires this course, you have to take it again anyways, and you might run into a harder prof. If the class average is too low, prof usually scales up everyone anyways. Bottom line, if you passed MACM 101, you should feel pretty good, because you are smart.
You don't ever want powerpoint not for math courses! Writing it down helps you to remember the content.
Is anyone else glad that we're finally doing graph theory? I'm not sure if it's just easier, or if it's because we spent so much time on it in MACM 101, but I get the feeling graph theory will be the reason I don't fail MACM 201.
I'm resurrecting this thread because I have a question regarding this course and wanted to re-use a thread already in existence.
I havent taken MACM 101 in 8 years(xfer credit). At some point soon I am goin to have to take MACM 201(maybe spring or fall). Should I re-take 101? or just self-study key concepts beforehand and then enroll?
Well, I took a MACM 101 equivalent a year ago, also a transfer. As far as I know, our MACM 101 introduced and covered some topics of MACM 201 at SFU, and the entire class did terribly...
I can't give you a good answer, but maybe some things to consider? -Do you learn well on your own? Do you need to learn from someone? -Do you know what is covered in MACM 101? -Are you math minded and comfortable with it?
I think in my case, redoing MACM 101 would not benefit me at all.. I will do equally bad in MACM 201 regardless of the circumstances...
1) I tend to do equally well on my own or following someone elses lead. To me there is no difference except the mode.
2) Judging from the course outline of MACM 101 I could figure out what they do here at SFU. The key is focusing on what actually carries over to 201.
3) I suppose I am math minded since I make my living as a software developer, ;). I am definitely comfortable with structured abstract concepts.
I think attempting MACM 101 would do unecessary damage to my GPA without benifiting my goal. I could probably prepare myself for 201 and not harm my GPA.
Do you or anyone else know which concepts from MACM 101 are re-used in 201?
I just realized that SFU doesn't consider your transfer GPA, so you kind of avoided the bullet with MACM101 being completed elsewhere...
You will probably want to look up and compare course outlines for MACM 101, MACM 201. If you're lucky you might find a prof who has posted lecture notes, assignments or sample exams on their website to give you an idea of what actually happens in the class vs. what is expected...
Not sure if it will help you at all, but here is the course outline for the MACM I took, which seems to share a bit more with MACM 201 than SFU's MACM 101 does...
I - Foundations a) Logic b) Propositional Equivalences c) Predicates & Quantifiers d) Sets & Set Operations e) Functions f) Sequences & Summations g) The Growth of Functions II - Algorithms, Integers, and Matrices a) Algorithms b) Integers & Divisions c) Integers & Algorithms d) Matrices III - Mathematical Reasoning a) Method of Proof b) Mathematical Induction c) Recursive Definitions & Algorithms d) Program Correctness IV - Counting a) The Basics of Counting b) The Pigeonhole, Principle c) Permutations & Combinations d) Discrete Probability e) Generating Permutations & Combinations V - Advanced Counting Techniques a) Recurrence Relations b) Solving Recurrence Relations c) Divide & Conquer Relations d) Inclusion/Exclusion VI - Relations a) Relations & Their Properties b) N_ary Relations & Their Applications c) Representing Relations d) Equivalence Relations VII - Graphs a) Graph Terminology b) Representing Graph c) Connectivity d) Euler & Hamiltion Paths VIII - Trees a) Introduction to Trees b) Application of Trees c) Tree Traversal d) Trees & Sorting IX - Modeling Computation a) Languages & Grammars b) Finite State Machines With Output c) Finite State Machines With No Output d) Language Recognition
macm 101 is probability & general combinatorics, set theory, logic + proofs(induction, pigeonhole principle, logic proofs), functions & relations and a little bit on graph theory and trees
macm 201 is mostly parts IV-d,e a to VIII in the outline above Theres some probability/combinatorics at the beginning, then it goes into advanced counting with inclusion/exclusion, generation functions, recurrence relations, then graph theory (terminology, graphs and subgraphs, planarity, connectivity, hamilton cycles and paths). Then trees and tree/graph traversal at the end (pre-order, postorder, inorder, huffman coding, djikstra's, prim's algorithms etc.)
So considering your first question, you pretty much only need to know basic probability/combinatorics and set theory and some principles of proofs (like induction). I think you'd do fine in MACM 201 if you self-study MACM 101 stuff beforehand
Comments
Do the assignments (if you can), but ask for help at the workshop as much as you can. Some TAs are more helpful than others, so stick to the good ones. Other than that, there's not much you can do right?
MACM 201 is going to KILL me!
MACM 101 was a piece of cake.. but 201? I don't know if it's just this prof or if I should have taken some other course first, but I'm so confused during lectures. (for example, the ridiculous "chess" question last class)
The prof seems to teach as if everyone understands the material without any problems.. I get the feeling I'm missing a course prerequisite or something.
I'll try to follow your advice. Thanks!
Ether, I think exactly the same-it's either prof or there should be some other course in between 101 and 201. Sometimes I don't even understand the notation she uses =( True, but I don't understand >.< - even when I preread the material - I don't understand what prof is teaching.
Who was your prof in 101?
I am really upset about this course ;_;
I miss his accent.. and his powerpoint slides.
I think one of the problems with 201 is that the prof writes so fast I can barely keep up with the notes and I definitely can't be thinking about the concepts. I would much rather have the notes and be paying attention to the concepts (which, in my opinion, are pretty difficult).
Yeah, I'm taking MACM 201 too. The midterm was seriously brutal--if my mark turns out to be as low as I expect it to be, I think I'm going to drop the course. It sucks to have a WD permanently stamped onto my transcript, but I'm not willing to let my GPA suffer the blow of an F grade. (Last day for dropping classes through goSFU is October 9th, in case anyone was wondering.)
The prof seems pleasant enough but, like Ether already mentioned, she writes so fast that it's extremely difficult to keep up with note-taking, let alone process what it is that she's attempting to explain. Her class would be a lot more bearable if she posted the notes on WebCT or used PowerPoint slides.
You don't ever want powerpoint not for math courses! Writing it down helps you to remember the content.
Good luck!
Is anyone else glad that we're finally doing graph theory? I'm not sure if it's just easier, or if it's because we spent so much time on it in MACM 101, but I get the feeling graph theory will be the reason I don't fail MACM 201.
Woohoo..
Chauve is the prof for 201 this fall it seems.
I havent taken MACM 101 in 8 years(xfer credit). At some point soon I am goin to have to take MACM 201(maybe spring or fall). Should I re-take 101? or just self-study key concepts beforehand and then enroll?
I am leaning towards the latter. Any advice?
I can't give you a good answer, but maybe some things to consider?
-Do you learn well on your own? Do you need to learn from someone?
-Do you know what is covered in MACM 101?
-Are you math minded and comfortable with it?
I think in my case, redoing MACM 101 would not benefit me at all.. I will do equally bad in MACM 201 regardless of the circumstances...
To answer your questions:
1) I tend to do equally well on my own or following someone elses lead. To me there is no difference except the mode.
2) Judging from the course outline of MACM 101 I could figure out what they do here at SFU. The key is focusing on what actually carries over to 201.
3) I suppose I am math minded since I make my living as a software developer, ;). I am definitely comfortable with structured abstract concepts.
I think attempting MACM 101 would do unecessary damage to my GPA without benifiting my goal. I could probably prepare myself for 201 and not harm my GPA.
Do you or anyone else know which concepts from MACM 101 are re-used in 201?
Thanks again for your reply.
You will probably want to look up and compare course outlines for MACM 101, MACM 201. If you're lucky you might find a prof who has posted lecture notes, assignments or sample exams on their website to give you an idea of what actually happens in the class vs. what is expected...
This outline seems to show which things are review explicitly:
https://aisg.sfu.ca/cos/wcOutlineView.aspx?crsOutId=10233
Not sure if it will help you at all, but here is the course outline for the MACM I took, which seems to share a bit more with MACM 201 than SFU's MACM 101 does...
I - Foundations
a) Logic
b) Propositional Equivalences
c) Predicates & Quantifiers
d) Sets & Set Operations
e) Functions
f) Sequences & Summations
g) The Growth of Functions
II - Algorithms, Integers, and Matrices
a) Algorithms
b) Integers & Divisions
c) Integers & Algorithms
d) Matrices
III - Mathematical Reasoning
a) Method of Proof
b) Mathematical Induction
c) Recursive Definitions & Algorithms
d) Program Correctness
IV - Counting
a) The Basics of Counting
b) The Pigeonhole, Principle
c) Permutations & Combinations
d) Discrete Probability
e) Generating Permutations & Combinations
V - Advanced Counting Techniques
a) Recurrence Relations
b) Solving Recurrence Relations
c) Divide & Conquer Relations
d) Inclusion/Exclusion
VI - Relations
a) Relations & Their Properties
b) N_ary Relations & Their Applications
c) Representing Relations
d) Equivalence Relations
VII - Graphs
a) Graph Terminology
b) Representing Graph
c) Connectivity
d) Euler & Hamiltion Paths
VIII - Trees
a) Introduction to Trees
b) Application of Trees
c) Tree Traversal
d) Trees & Sorting
IX - Modeling Computation
a) Languages & Grammars
b) Finite State Machines With Output
c) Finite State Machines With No Output
d) Language Recognition
that looks incredibly similar to the one I took at BCIT 8 years ago? I just compared your outline with mine from back then.
macm 201 is mostly parts IV-d,e a to VIII in the outline above
Theres some probability/combinatorics at the beginning, then it goes into advanced counting with inclusion/exclusion, generation functions, recurrence relations, then graph theory (terminology, graphs and subgraphs, planarity, connectivity, hamilton cycles and paths). Then trees and tree/graph traversal at the end (pre-order, postorder, inorder, huffman coding, djikstra's, prim's algorithms etc.)
So considering your first question, you pretty much only need to know basic probability/combinatorics and set theory and some principles of proofs (like induction). I think you'd do fine in MACM 201 if you self-study MACM 101 stuff beforehand