Get ready for lots of proofs. Math 131 is essentially all your math classes up to calculus conceptualized into an abstract concept. In other words, you learn how these ideas you've learned in your past math classes come to be (i.e limits, continuity, derivatives). This class is very tricky, requiring you to think outside the box to solve these problems rather than brutal computations. You won't be faced with as much concepts compared to other math classes but with the ideas you learn, you have to apply them to its limit. There are 9 homeworks (one dropped), two midterms and one final in this class where one midterm can be dropped.
Pros:
- Professor is very helpful. He'll answer any questions in a concise way, making sure students understand what he meant. He's even more helpful in office hours as he goes over homework and past exam questions. Highly recommend going to his office hours as that's how I got my homework done.
- Professor is very consistent with lectures. He goes over proofs well (which is rare in the math department) and even if he doesn't have time to do a proof, he lays out the structure in a way we can understand.
Cons:
- Homework is tough af. Every assignment feels like one of those "think outside the box" puzzle games where you have to pull some technique only 200 iq people would think of. This is why his OFFICE HOURS are HELPFUL!
- Exams are just as difficult. His practice exams give you what concepts to expect on each exam but again, you have to think outside the box for each of these questions that you can't really do much to prepare except to do many practice problems.
- Grading is strict, but it could've been because our T.A was a picky grader.