Saturday, September 19, 2009

The Reals

This Fall, I was encouraged to attend an undergraduate's class on Real Analysis. A subject of mathematical analysis. It is a basic or very fundamental to all mathematics' graduates in Concordia. It has been two weeks now and there's a lot that I've learn from the class.

During my undergraduate's I remembered that I took some mathematical subject being as my minor. Those days, I have Calculus, Algebra, Linear Algebra, Advanced Calculus, Vector Analysis, Mechanics and Complex Analysis. For all this types of subject I was learning on how to solve a problems given. To be specific, we were taught on solving problem technique per se.

In my Real Analysis class, we start with the study of the property of natural numbers (i.e. positive numbers, 1,2,3,..), next the rationals (i.e fractional number 1/2, 1/3, ...) and now we are learning to construct the real numbers from the rationals. How beautiful can it be rite?

We were using the fact that from the property of rationals the operation of addition and multiplication can also be done in the real number without assuming that that kind of operations are definitely works (in real life it is always true). But, how far that we know that it is always true? In this class, we were suppose to answer any such question with proves. Only then it is safe to say something implies to something. If no such proof, then it's just only and hypothesis. Nothing else. It's quite complicated and sometimes it can be a mental torcher, but it is worth it.

I think it is the best choice to sit in this class and learn 'new' things which for most people it is not really new.

p/s- Reals as we know as nombor nyata has long been used for counting.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Salam Perantauan...

We've finally made it this year for the Aidilfitri Salam Perantauan (credits to Kosmo.com.my)

SALAM Ramadan dan Aidilfitri 1430H kepada ibu dan ayah di Besut, Terengganu dan Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan (Masitah Sulaiman, Aziz Jusoh), (Norsimah Habib, Mohd. Shah Hussein), Mak Dik, Mak Mi, Mak Jan, Uncle Sham, Edan Farid, Azri, Mak Ton, Kak Ina, Edan, Zuwan, Kak Cik, Ana, Usmadi, Yusri, Yusnita, Tarmizi, Azwan dan sanak saudara tidak kira di mana sahaja berada. Untuk rakan-rakan di UKM (IMEN) dan UPM (Jabatan Fizik) juga kami menyusun sepuluh jari memohon ampun dan maaf.

Daripada:

MOHD. FAIZAL AZIZ, NURISYA MOHD. SHAH dan AIN EDLEEN MOHD. FAIZAL, Concordia University, Montreal, Kanada.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

No Short Cut

I've been preparing myself for the comprehensive exam in the specialized part which is physics. Which means, I have to 'cover' my previous undergraduates study on classical mechanics (CM), electrodynamics (~EM) and quantum mechanics (QM) at the same time. They provide the textbooks plus the selected chapters to focus on. It looks impossible to do and create pressure at the same time. But earlier student proved that it can be done.

Looking at the selected chapters, I try to be as positive as I can in terms of grabbing any facts, techniques, method and everything which are important. Believed me there are so many (sigh). Also to be honest, there are some chapters which I don't remember myself ever went through. For example the WKB approximation in QM. Then I thought to save time, I can try to talk to my SV (who also the question maker) so maybe that few chapters can be excluded.

But the response was just

"well, try to look at it first"

An answer which I've expected. So bring it on (in a positive way)