So far CSC236 is in the lead for most work this semester. When I look at the actual work assigned it doesn't seem like it should take too long, but the process of explaining the proof clearly enough in hopes of getting full marks is taking me hours, literally. I'm hoping that once A1 is marked I'll get some feedback to whether I'm writing my proofs clear enough or not. Other then that, all I can do is go to office hours constantly.
I'm finally almost finished A1, after writing question #1 out three different ways and spending a good two hours writing out a clear proof for #2. All I have left to do is figure out how I'm supposed to prove that Phi is irrational, given that I only have natural numbers to work with. I have a strong feeling that I'll have to go to office hours Monday morning before its due. Oh well, I have most of today to think it over and hopefully figure it out.
I really hope October doesn't get too busy, but its not looking good: five midterms/tests, two assignments, three homeworks, two problem sets, two exercises, and the CSC207 project to work on. What little free time I had will soon be gone. Its a depressing situation, but I guess that's university life.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Week 2: Assignment #1, Oh God.
This second week of classes had a good feeling to it, my mind is no longer on vacation and my classes dont seem overly hard. I was glad that the 236 lectures stayed at the same pace and were 90% examples, seeing examples of how Induction/Complete Induction is done over and over hammers it in nicely. And also the problem set took me less time than I anticiplated - even though Prof. Heap informed everyone that they would not me "problem sets" in the sense that those of us who came from MAT137 were used to. The only problem I kept running into was whether or not I was explaining too much or too little in my justification, but that was solved relativtly painlessly through a quick visit during office hours (actually I think it wasn't during office hours, oops).
As I'm writing this I'm taking my break from working on Assignment #1. I just have to say: it's HARD. Not impossible, but hard nonetheless. I think I've figured out the pattren for the menu problem, but proving it inductively is a whole different ball game. I'm not worrying too much though, I'll just have to go to as many TA office hours as I can. At least I hope that will help.
In the mean time, working on problem set #2 will keep me productive without losing my sanity.
As I'm writing this I'm taking my break from working on Assignment #1. I just have to say: it's HARD. Not impossible, but hard nonetheless. I think I've figured out the pattren for the menu problem, but proving it inductively is a whole different ball game. I'm not worrying too much though, I'll just have to go to as many TA office hours as I can. At least I hope that will help.
In the mean time, working on problem set #2 will keep me productive without losing my sanity.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Week 1: Still Half Asleep
Its been a long summer. Getting back into the swing of university life has been a rough process, but hopefully this upcoming week will be easier. But, I must say, I'm glad to be back. Summer got old fairly quickly: work, videogames, sleep, repeat. my mind needs more activity!
Unfortunatly CSC236 was my first class of the year and I had no idea what was going on. But I have hope, I did well in CSC165. I actually didn't know that this was going to be my first class; for some reason I was under the impression that Prof. Heap's class would be listed as CSC26_, so I expected it to be in the spring. It was a pleasant suprise, plus the textbook was only 25 dollars, so that helps my wallet.
The first few classes (aside from Monday) went well, a rough review of induction and some good example problems that initially stumped me. It seems like it will be an easy first couple weeks, I enjoy proofs by induction and the first problem set only took about 15 minutes to complete. Also, Prof. Heap's new tablet PC is an excellent teaching tool, since all of the notes that he writes up in class are posted online it means I have more time in class to simply listen and think about the problem presented (plus writing down a few personal notes and scratch work). That was one of the things that really bothered me last year, having to quickly type everything up as it was written on the board. That and the structured proof. By the end of last term I definitly wasn't a fan of the structured proof, but I will admit that in the beginning it helped a lot. Now that thats gone it'll be even easier. Well, aside from the fact that this class is inherently harder than CSC165. Oh well, can't win every battle.
Unfortunatly CSC236 was my first class of the year and I had no idea what was going on. But I have hope, I did well in CSC165. I actually didn't know that this was going to be my first class; for some reason I was under the impression that Prof. Heap's class would be listed as CSC26_, so I expected it to be in the spring. It was a pleasant suprise, plus the textbook was only 25 dollars, so that helps my wallet.
The first few classes (aside from Monday) went well, a rough review of induction and some good example problems that initially stumped me. It seems like it will be an easy first couple weeks, I enjoy proofs by induction and the first problem set only took about 15 minutes to complete. Also, Prof. Heap's new tablet PC is an excellent teaching tool, since all of the notes that he writes up in class are posted online it means I have more time in class to simply listen and think about the problem presented (plus writing down a few personal notes and scratch work). That was one of the things that really bothered me last year, having to quickly type everything up as it was written on the board. That and the structured proof. By the end of last term I definitly wasn't a fan of the structured proof, but I will admit that in the beginning it helped a lot. Now that thats gone it'll be even easier. Well, aside from the fact that this class is inherently harder than CSC165. Oh well, can't win every battle.
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