Electronics and math ?

[tron87]

What level of math is required to :

A.Pursue a career in electronics engineering ?
B.Pursue a hobby interest where you analyze,learn and maybe design your own circuits as an interest ?


What area of electronics theory is good to learn other than ?
ohms law,Kirchhoff law,thevenin theorem,superposition theorem etc

 

[MrAl]

Hi,

Nodal analysis.

 

[FusionITR]

Algebra, calculus, and some topics from differential equations such as laplace transforms. If you want to get a actual college degree in electrical engineering you will need to take calculus 3 and differential equations and a lot of physics classes that are math heavy. If you can't do or don't want to do math choose another career.

 

[cr0sh]

For "B", you can probably get by with no more than some advanced (or maybe not-so-advanced) algebra for most things; for "A" it's a whole 'nother ball-o-wax (as previous answers demonstrate).

Something else to keep in mind (and this really depends on how well you know yourself): Let's say you went for option "A", because you are currently interested at the level of option "B". Do you think that, after a long day at the office (or wherever), pursuing your option "A" career - that you will feel like pursuing option "B" once at home, in your workshop (or whereever)?

Some people can, some people can't. If you don't know this about yourself yet, then you should give some thought to it. Would it upset you to find out that you don't want to pursue electronics as a hobby, when you work at it as a career? Or would you rather have a career doing something else, and pursue electronics at a hobbyist level (where you would be somewhat limited in what you are capable of doing and understanding - because you didn't take option "A")? Or - do you think you can integrate one with the other?

Just something to keep in mind...

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

Let's not scare the OP. You have to define Hobby Interest. Microprocessor based circuits vs. building FM and AM receivers as a hobby will require different skills.

The career requires going through the hoops and the hoops include algebra, geometry, calculus, differential equations, linear algebra and discrete math. Electronics requires a less extensive math background.

 

[FusionITR]

Let's not scare the OP.

Well, as for his point A, i think its a good idea to scare him as to not waste his time. The drop out rate for EE is very high. Graduating class is much smaller than the class size you see in introductory circuits.

 

[cr0sh]

As a "follow on" to my post - check out this thread:

https://www.electro-tech-online.com/threads/where-do-i-go-from-here.120643/

I can't speak for wuchy143, but his is an example of what can happen if you don't know yourself as well as you think you do; in his case it sounds like he is getting a life lesson that will likely make him a better person, and make him know himself better (this is something all of us go thru - that's life!). He may have been happier pursuing electronics as a hobby, rather than as a career. Hopefully, his experience hasn't ruined his hobby outlet, and he can find something that better fits his personality and needs (which it sounds like, from the thread, that he will do).

Learn from other's experiences - both good and bad...

 

[panic mode]

check for yourself, here are math pages for 1st and 2nd term of second year engineering:
https://www.math.mcmaster.ca/gabardo/M2Z03.html
https://www.math.mcmaster.ca/gabardo/M2ZZ3.html

and here are student reviews
https://www.macinsiders.com/showthread.php/could-anyone-please-review-math-2z03-2zz3-30170.html?

 

[carbonzit]

Algebra, calculus, and some topics from differential equations such as laplace transforms.

I don't know why people so often describe differential equations as somehow distinct from calculus. They're not: calculus covers the broad topics of both differentiation and integration.

In any case, knowledge of calculus is not really required to pursue "B", electronics as a hobby (though it surely doesn't hurt to at least understand the basic concepts of calculus, namely, the derivative and the integral).

 

[FusionITR]

I don't know why people so often describe differential equations as somehow distinct from calculus. They're not: calculus covers the broad topics of both differentiation and integration.

In any case, knowledge of calculus is not really required to pursue "B", electronics as a hobby (though it surely doesn't hurt to at least understand the basic concepts of calculus, namely, the derivative and the integral).

Probably because when you take it in college they are seperate classes.