Number theory or probability

[Takeshi]

Hi everyone,

I'm a sophomore now and need to decide on classes for the fall of my junior year. I have two math classes that I'm very interested in, number theory and probability. For logistical reasons, I can only take one of those classes, which will be used to fulfill my math major. But my other major is computer science, and I am hoping to go to graduate school in computer science. I don't know what field I want to specialize in, though, so I'm just wondering which of these math classes is most useful for computer science graduate school? Both are of the same rigor, and won't be offered in my senior year.

[jjsakurai]

Probability in general unless you're really interested in crypto in which case number theory.

[Takeshi]

Yeah, I've never been into cryptography that much, but I do enjoy other aspects of algorithms as well as programming languages, AI, etc.

Are there certain fields of computer science where probability is definitely more useful than number theory in general (as well as fields other than cryptology where number theory is more useful)? I would imagine AI falls in this category.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Takeshi

[fatman]

Certainly, probability is alot more useful. But number theory is plain more fun.

Also, what school doens't offer probabilty at least once a year? It's pretty important stuff.

[DJLamar]

AI in general is a field where probability will be waaaay more useful than number theory, as you guessed. Even in most theory research other than cryptography, probability will still be much more useful.

But really, probability is easy material to pick up and probably not that exciting when presented as a lecture. I suggest you just take whichever sounds honestly more interesting to you. If you want to do grad school later, you should be doing research in an area that's interesting to you long before you graduate, and you can pick up on the probability stuff as you go or learn the most important stuff over the course of a week on your own. I was required to take a probability course, but actually started doing research in computer vision and machine learning my second or third year of college. I picked up all the probability I needed that way. Later, in the Summer before my last year of undergrad, I just studied a little extra and took and passed an exam in order to bypass taking the probability course at all.

[Adamah]

I'd definitely say pick probability. It's one of the few courses that teaches you to think in a different way and is also extremely applicable.

[Takeshi]

Certainly, probability is alot more useful. But number theory is plain more fun.

Also, what school doens't offer probabilty at least once a year? It's pretty important stuff.

My school is quite small, and there are other courses that incorporate segments of probability.

That said, I made up my mind. I'll take Probability ... looking forward to proving the Central Limit Theorem.