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Content on Math Subject GRE

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:33 am
by mathgradhopeful
Is Upper Division Linear Algebra (on the level of Linear Algebra Done Right) covered in the Math Subject GRE or will reviewing Lower Division Linear Algebra (from Strang's book)?

Also, which chapters in Rudin are necessary to review for the Math Subject GRE (possibly Chapters 1-7 or 8)?

Also, what has been your strategy in reviewing for October and/or November's test(s)?

I have read the list of Math Subject GRE's content on the ETS website, but the list seemed kind of vague in terms of what would be covered.

Re: Content on Math Subject GRE

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:42 pm
by jplusip
Little Rudin will do you absolutely NO good on the Math GRE. Well, it may help with one or two questions, but it would be overkill for those.

Good textbooks for the Math GRE are:
Calculus by James Steward
Mathematical Structures for Computer Science by Judith L. Gersting ( The abstract algebra is no deeper than what's in here; also has probability, combinatorics, and graph theory)
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences by Mary L. Boas (Basic differential equations, basic complex variables)
Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 3rd Updated Edition by David C. Lay

Those four books would probably cover 90-95% of the material you'll see on the Math GRE.

Re: Content on Math Subject GRE

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:24 pm
by mathgradhopeful
Is Advanced Linear Algebra is covered on the exam. Would studying the first semester (lower division) Linear Algebra be enough for the exam?

I'm currently reviewing Stewart's Essential Calculus and I plan on reviewing Dummit and Foote's Abstract Algebra. Dummit and Foote might be a little bit too much for the test, but I am familiar with it since I used it during my Abstract Algebra class.

Re: Content on Math Subject GRE

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:50 pm
by jplusip
I'm not sure what you mean by "advanced" linear algebra.

You should know about eigenvalues, determinants, jordan forms, rank/nullity, trace, rref, the identity matrix, linear transformations, vector spaces, and matrices raised to powers