Chem/Maths Third Year Unit Selections

[DisaFear]

Hi guys,

It's that time of the year, subject selections, and I'm trying to figure out the best combo for a double major in Chem and Applied Maths
Would love some advice from people who have already graduated in these areas!

Right now, I'm looking at:

Semester 1:

• CHM3941 - Adv. Inorganic Chemistry (apparently helpful in research later on? even though I dislike it)
• MTH3051 - Introduction to Computational Mathematics (lecturer recommends this)
• MTH2021 - Linear Algebra with applications (needed for a major in Applied Maths)
• CHM3990 - Chemistry project (sneak-peek into research life?)

Semester 2:

• CHM3922 - Adv. Organic Chemistry (interested in this area)
• CHM3952 - Adv. Analytical Chemistry (feel like this will come back again and again in any chemistry field)
• MTH???
• MTH???

So, I'm a bit undecided on the math units I'm going to be doing.
Here are my options:

• MTH3020 - Complex analysis and integral transforms (SEMESTER 2)
• MTH3060 - Adv. ODEs (SEMESTER 2)
• MTH3310 - Applied Mathematical Modelling (SEMESTER 2)
• MTH3011 - Partial Differential Equations (SEMESTER 1) - I have to kick out CHM3990 and put it in second semester if I want to do this

 
Should I do CHM3990 in second sem, and have 3 math/1 chem to 3 chem/1 math, or go 2-2 in each semester? I'd stay much more sane if I went 2-2, I reckon, but I think the 3-1 will give me better units?
What do you guys recommend? Especially people who are doing post-grad/etc now, who know what is needed in higher levels, what would you recommend I take?

[alondouek]

Hmm, interesting position. On the one hand, 3990 units are really good experience for postgrad work, so I'd recommend trying to fit that in. On the other hand, I understand that ODEs and PDEs have massive relevance in all forms of science (and obviously in applied maths). Hence - academically speaking - I'd say MTH3011 in Sem 1 then CHM3990 in sem 2. I reckon it might be worth holding off till sem 2 to do advanced ODEs, as you'll have PDE theory 'in the bank', which may be useful.



So, to summarise:

Semester 1:

• CHM3941 - Adv. Inorganic Chemistry
• MTH3051 - Introduction to Computational Mathematics
• MTH2021 - Linear Algebra with applications
• MTH3011 - Partial Differential Equations

Semester 2:

• CHM3922 - Adv. Organic Chemistry
• CHM3952 - Adv. Analytical Chemistry
• CHM3990
• MTH3020/3060/3310

[BigAl]

What about fluid dynamics? Well I assume you're dealing with gas and liquid stuff in chem..so I think it's a good option

[DisaFear]

I reckon it might be worth holding off till sem 2 to do advanced ODEs

Adv. ODEs is only Sem 2, so no choice about that
I'll ask a few more lecturers, especially some of the organic ones, if PDEs is really required
Really not looking forward to 3 maths in one sem :O maths is my weakest area as well

What about fluid dynamics? Well I assume you're dealing with gas and liquid stuff in chem..so I think it's a good option

I looked at it, yea. It can come in handy, sure, but I think the other units are more relevant. Fluid dynamics seems more of a physical thing - in Chemistry, I'd think we're more concerned with 'pathways/mechanisms'
This is what I think, listed from most relevant to least relevant, for second semester math units

Adv. ODE (MTH3060)= App. Math Modelling (MTH3310) > Complex analysis/Integral transforms (MTH3020) ~ Fluid Dyn. (MTH3360)

And I've heard bad things about Fluid Dynamics XD I'm already called crazy for doing a math major, but fluid dynamics... :O

[b^3]

And I've heard bad things about Fluid Dynamics XD I'm already called crazy for doing a math major, but fluid dynamics... :O

Do a double applied major with an aero degree instead!

[BigAl]

Do a double applied major with an aero degree instead!

Aero/astro/applied maths is crazy..so we did some space mechanics in aero..then we did Newton's second law and how an elliptical orbit could be derived out of it in astro...I think we have aerodynamics in aero later on, which is identical to fluid dynamics... And fluid dynamics is one of the recommended units in astro major

[TrueTears]

MTH3020 - Really top unit, helps if you've done real analysis, but doesn't really matter if you haven't. Concepts taught in this unit are very rigorous and proofs are often left as exercises.

MTH3011 - I'd highly recommend this unit, it flows on nicely from MTH2032 and opens you up to the wonder world of PDE's from a very rigorous point of view.

[DisaFear]

Do a double applied major with an aero degree instead!

Lol, what math units are you taking next year?

MTH3020 - Really top unit, helps if you've done real analysis, but doesn't really matter if you haven't. Concepts taught in this unit are very rigorous and proofs are often left as exercises.

MTH3011 - I'd highly recommend this unit, it flows on nicely from MTH2032 and opens you up to the wonder world of PDE's from a very rigorous point of view.

What are some applications of MTH3020? I take it 'Complex Analysis' deals with complex numbers? (haven't seen any of that in chem so far)

[BigAl]

Lol, what math units are you taking next year?

What are some applications of MTH3020? I take it 'Complex Analysis' deals with complex numbers? (haven't seen any of that in chem so far)

Well according to my physics professor, some chemists deal with quantum technologies...and we have this weird schrodinger equation with some complex numbers...while that describes wave nature of a particle in a box, I don't know if it's any useful to chemists

[TrueTears]

I have no idea of the applications of complex analysis in chemistry, Mao can definitely shed more light on that. Although in mathematical finance, real/complex/functional analysis is used plenty, I won't bother going into the details.

But certainly, I assume complex analysis would have its uses in chemistry...

[Thu Thu Train]

Awwwwwww Disa you're doing a lot of the same maths subjects as me we'll be best buds

[b^3]

Lol, what math units are you taking next year?

Only two unfortunately, unlike the 4 maths units out of 5 last semester :p
But yeah first sem mth3051 and second sem mth3020. I would have done 3020 this sem but it clashed with a lot of things.

[m.Chemia]

I'm going into second year and I'm definitely doing MTH2021, MTH3011, MTH3020, CHM2911 and CHM2922. And another 3 MTH unis from MTH2140, MTH3110, MTH3051, MTH3060, MTH3310... so many units I wanna do lol

Anyways, among MTH3020, MTH3060 and MTH3310, as you are doing applied maths and don't seem to like pure stuff that much, I'd say MTH3310 is probably the best. No one knows how well it's gonna be taught as it's new, but it definitely is gonna be useful and the handbook description is just sooo appealing.

[Thu Thu Train]

I'm doing:

MTH2021(1st)
MTH3121(1st)
MTH3150(2nd)
MTH3020(2nd)
and possibly MTH3110(2nd)

Pure maffs bitchez

[m.Chemia]

I'm doing:

MTH2021(1st)
MTH3121(1st)
MTH3051(2nd)
MTH3020(2nd)
and possibly MTH3110(2nd)

Pure maffs bitchez

You can't do MTH3051 in 2nd semester right, can you?