3.2 & 3.3, due on August 31

The Difficult:

I think the most difficult part of these sections for me will be doing the Extended Euclidean Algorithm. The instructions were hard for me to understand and I'm not sure that I would be able to do one. The rules for dividing in modular arithmetic didn't have a very long explanation, but I think I would be fine if I saw one demonstrated.

The Interesting:

I have never worked with modular fractions before and they looked interesting to me. I'm excited to try using them because they look like they make modular arithmetic with w. 

1.1-1.2 & 3.1, due on August 29

The Difficult:

Abstract Algebra was a very challenging class for me. I know that I will find it difficult to remember the Abstract Algebra theorems and theories that were presented in 3.1. It will take some time for me to remember how to do the Euclidean Algorithm. I had a hard time understanding the Prime Number Theorem from reading it in the book.

The Reflective:

The introductory sections got me really excited for this class. I am excited to learn how these concepts help in electronic safety of transmitting information like credit card numbers. That's a very common part of my life and it will be cool to understand how the information is shared securely. Also, I thought it was cool how the chapter talked about different types of cryptography that was used during wars; that made it seem really important.

Introduction, due on August 29

• I am a senior in the Mathematics Education department.

• I have taken Math 290, 313, 314, 334, 341, & 371. 

• I am taking this class because I remember really liking the Cryptography unit during my Math 290 class. When my advisor told me that he would allow this course to count as my optional upper-level math class for the Mathematics Education major, I thought it would be really cool to teach. When I was debating between this class and Graph Theory for this semester to count for that credit towards the MathEd major, one of my friends told me that "Jenkins is a great teacher. He actually tries to help you learn and cares about you." I have really struggled in many of the upper level math classes, and I am excited to have a teacher that is willing to help me. 

• The only CAS systems I have experience with are the Texas Instruments CAS systems on the TI-89 and the TI n-Spire. That has been my only programming exposure. I'm nervous about using these programs to turn in my assignments if this is a proofy class because I have a really hard time formulating proofs, but I would not be nervous using them for computations. I'm not afraid of a challenge, though, and am willing to try. 

• I have had so many math teachers in college that it would be hard to pick one that was the most/least effective. However, there were many things they did that I noticed either helped or hindered my learning. For instance, I had a teacher who made me feel Really dumb when I came and asked him questions during his office hours which made that class difficult for me. The classes I have had the hardest time succeeding in are those where the teacher likes to surprise the students on the exams with lots of proofs to see how they do; to me, that's not demonstrating my knowledge of the classroom material and is instead just demonstrating how horrible I am at proving things. I loved that one of my teachers made homework due just once a week so I could focus on learning the material. Another teacher would allow us to email him questions and would really promptly respond which was really helpful to me. Also, I had a teacher give very detailed study guides of key and important problems for the tests and he would only select test questions from that study guide; I learned more in that class than I ever have in a BYU math class.

• I have 5 older brothers and all five of them went to the U of U. That makes me the only Cougar of the family!

• I have class during your office hours, but I would be able to come MWF from 12-1:00.