Average time required to understand this stuff?
Originally posted by: CP5670
Average time required to understand this stuff?
Depends on how in depth you want to go. For a quick overview, just read the wikipedia article on it and some other articles it links to. That gives all the basic ideas quickly. On the other hand, the study of these things and related concepts forms a major area of math called harmonic analysis, and numerous books have been written on it.
That's awesome. :laugh:
Originally posted by: BrownTown
I guess it matters whether you AP out of first year math, I got to it second semester freshmen year, but didn't use it for EE related stuff until I took linear systems in first semester freshmen year. Fourier series is one of the few things you learn in math that is actually USEFUL to understanding electrical engineering. It really is quite simple concept though, don't let the math fool you, just concentrate on what it means physically and the implications to real life. The discrete versions are also important for even the most basic digital signal processing.
EDIT: never considered it soemthing anyone dreaded. People dreaded the electromagnetics course (because its nothing but 3D vector calculus and hard to visualize) far more than Fourier series.
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Originally posted by: BrownTown
I guess it matters whether you AP out of first year math, I got to it second semester freshmen year, but didn't use it for EE related stuff until I took linear systems in first semester freshmen year. Fourier series is one of the few things you learn in math that is actually USEFUL to understanding electrical engineering. It really is quite simple concept though, don't let the math fool you, just concentrate on what it means physically and the implications to real life. The discrete versions are also important for even the most basic digital signal processing.
EDIT: never considered it soemthing anyone dreaded. People dreaded the electromagnetics course (because its nothing but 3D vector calculus and hard to visualize) far more than Fourier series.
I'm dreading that one too
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Originally posted by: BrownTown
I guess it matters whether you AP out of first year math, I got to it second semester freshmen year, but didn't use it for EE related stuff until I took linear systems in first semester freshmen year. Fourier series is one of the few things you learn in math that is actually USEFUL to understanding electrical engineering. It really is quite simple concept though, don't let the math fool you, just concentrate on what it means physically and the implications to real life. The discrete versions are also important for even the most basic digital signal processing.
EDIT: never considered it soemthing anyone dreaded. People dreaded the electromagnetics course (because its nothing but 3D vector calculus and hard to visualize) far more than Fourier series.
I'm dreading that one too
Originally posted by: Born2bwire
*whine* Why don't more people enjoy electromagnetics?
Originally posted by: foges
You do it in your third year, we do them in the second semester... second semester starts in 2 weeks for me :s
Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
Once you start thinking in the frequency domain, you never look at anything the same again. It's like learning a new language, kind of.
Are you doing Fourier in a math class? I never saw it until Signals/Systems, certainly not in Linear Algebra/Diff Eq./Calc...
Originally posted by: KIAman
6 courses in physics and 6 courses in math required for my COMPUTER SCIENCE degree. At least these are in your field of study.
Originally posted by: KIAman
6 courses in physics and 6 courses in math required for my COMPUTER SCIENCE degree. At least these are in your field of study.
Originally posted by: BrownTown
Originally posted by: KIAman
6 courses in physics and 6 courses in math required for my COMPUTER SCIENCE degree. At least these are in your field of study.
six courses in PHYSICS!??!?, I didn't take a single physics course in college to get an EE degree. You only needed 2 semesters and I APed out of them. WTF do you need quantum mechanics to program a computer for?
Originally posted by: esun
Originally posted by: BrownTown
Originally posted by: KIAman
6 courses in physics and 6 courses in math required for my COMPUTER SCIENCE degree. At least these are in your field of study.
six courses in PHYSICS!??!?, I didn't take a single physics course in college to get an EE degree. You only needed 2 semesters and I APed out of them. WTF do you need quantum mechanics to program a computer for?
Understanding quantum algorithms, which may become relevant if quantum computers ever become a reality (although you could argue they're still relevant from a theoretical perspective either way).
Some also hold the opinion that these classes, while they do not necessarily provide material that is directly used in your field, indicate a level of intellectual maturity necessary to be successful in your field. For example, the problem solving skills learned in an physics class could easily be applied elsewhere.
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
..the dreaded... FOURIER SERIES!
This stuff is a mess to trudge through :/
Average time required to understand this stuff? I see the intent, but sometimes the math doesn't mesh so nice
I always found it nice to keep a symbolic math program like Maple or Mathematica as backup rather than getting frustrated with math.