I too have started my M336 work in earnest tonight. I have over the past couple of weeks re-read the geometry units - they really don't interest me and all I need to know is where to look in the handbook for the frieze algorithm etc.
The exam seems fairly standard. Part 1 questions are pretty easy - there's bound to be a basic tiling question (write out the tile type and vertex type) a Frieze question (v? h? g? r? - and that's it!) a basic wallpaper question and a lattice question. 20 easy marks for very little study. The groups questions will always include a proof that something is a homomorphism (f(ab) = f(a)f(b) and that's it - another 5 marks) a matrix question (if you want to check you're right after all the manipulations just check the determinant of the initial matrix - should be the same)
Long questions for me will be the counting question and 2 of the groups questions - 1 of which is an Abelian decomposition and another is a Sylow theorems.
Question spotting is a dangerous sport, generally, but having looked at the last 3 exams and the specimen, the questions are all pretty similar, and I'm certainly going to concentrate my efforts as above - especially since I have the small matter of the M823 exam on Monday!
"Question spotting is a dangerous sport", I know But I'm going to play it.
I've been interested with your take on the geometry, that it's algorithmic [in part, and I know that you didn't say quite that].
Because I've hated it so, and it has spoiled the groups for me I want to agree. But after this is over I'm going to have to go away and think about it.
The funny thing is that maths, such a rigorous subject, requires minds that are supple and self-doubting.
Comments
New comment
I too have started my M336 work in earnest tonight. I have over the past couple of weeks re-read the geometry units - they really don't interest me and all I need to know is where to look in the handbook for the frieze algorithm etc.
The exam seems fairly standard. Part 1 questions are pretty easy - there's bound to be a basic tiling question (write out the tile type and vertex type) a Frieze question (v? h? g? r? - and that's it!) a basic wallpaper question and a lattice question. 20 easy marks for very little study. The groups questions will always include a proof that something is a homomorphism (f(ab) = f(a)f(b) and that's it - another 5 marks) a matrix question (if you want to check you're right after all the manipulations just check the determinant of the initial matrix - should be the same)
Long questions for me will be the counting question and 2 of the groups questions - 1 of which is an Abelian decomposition and another is a Sylow theorems.
Question spotting is a dangerous sport, generally, but having looked at the last 3 exams and the specimen, the questions are all pretty similar, and I'm certainly going to concentrate my efforts as above - especially since I have the small matter of the M823 exam on Monday!
New comment
Ian
First off, really good luck for M823.
"Question spotting is a dangerous sport", I know
But I'm going to play it.
I've been interested with your take on the geometry, that it's algorithmic [in part, and I know that you didn't say quite that].
Because I've hated it so, and it has spoiled the groups for me I want to agree. But after this is over I'm going to have to go away and think about it.
The funny thing is that maths, such a rigorous subject, requires minds that are supple and self-doubting.
arb
nellie