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MATH 135Algebra for Honours Mathematics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Mathematics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 5 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introduction to the language of mathematics and proof techniques through a study of the basic algebraic systems of mathematics: the integers, the integers modulo n, the rational numbers, the real numbers, the complex numbers and polynomials.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following: 4U Calculus and Vectors, 4U Mathematics of Data Management
    • Complete 1 of the following

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • MATH145 - Algebra (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001598686 / 120MWF 08:30–09:20
LEC 0026254105 / 120MWF 09:30–10:20
LEC 0036266103 / 120MWF 09:30–10:20
LEC 004627094 / 120MWF 10:30–11:20
LEC 005627186 / 120MWF 10:30–11:20
LEC 006626976 / 120MWF 11:30–12:20
LEC 007627298 / 120MWF 11:30–12:20
LEC 0086267108 / 120MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 009626868 / 120MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 010627482 / 120MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 011647783 / 120MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 0126478101 / 120MWF 08:30–09:20
LEC 0136273118 / 120MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 014627589 / 120MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 015647686 / 120MWF 14:30–15:20
LEC 016805395 / 120MWF 14:30–15:20
TUT 1016695440 / 440W 16:00–17:20
TUT 1026696184 / 250W 16:00–17:20
TUT 1036697189 / 250W 16:00–17:20
TUT 1046698280 / 380W 16:00–17:20
TUT 105669999 / 150W 16:00–17:20
TUT 106670075 / 150W 16:00–17:20
TUT 1078072111 / 150W 16:00–17:20
TUT 1088075100 / 150W 16:00–17:20
TST 20164621478 / 1920Oct 21 19:00–20:50

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00156460 / 100MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 00257690 / 100MWF 12:30–13:20
LEC 08160960 / 120Online or by arrangement
LEC 701224935 / 9999Online or by arrangement
LEC 70223754 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10162470 / 100M 16:00–17:20
TUT 10262460 / 100M 16:00–17:20
TST 20156750 / 200Feb 22 19:00–20:50

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

79% liked it45% easy84% useful

From 1,911 ratings and 409 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • I don't like math. I'm a CS and code guy, not a math guy. However, all the profs I've interacted with in this course (I had Yu-Ru and Anton the course coordinator is just amazing) are lovely. They help you out and you feel cared. It does get really hard at the end though. Make sure you go to Yu-Ru's office hours if you can because she gives so many helpful hints there.

    Nov 2020 · liked it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Arguably the hardest course in 1A for any first year in the faculty of mathematics. You really have to put the work in to understand the concepts which are not exactly easy to grasp. Assignments take many hours, midterm was fairly easy and final was fair. Good luck to anyone taking this course, just remember not to panic, you will be fine, everyone goes through the same stage and eventually we all survive.

    Nov 2016 · liked it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • A difficult course coming from high school. The proof techniques are definitely useful to know if you're heading into Pure Math or something, but less relevant to a CS major. Nice to know, still. Makes me feel smarter.

    Nov 2014 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Was taught by Andrew Beltoas, GOAT prof, laid out his ideas really really nicely and easy to follow.
    The course content was fun and really really useful in all aspects of future mathematical pursuits - a really good introductory course.
    I would suggest going into this course with the mindset of that annoying "nerdy" kid who'd question everything that is not mildly rigorous. The language of math is NOT about "yeah that looks about right" and assuming stuff; it's about rigorous proofs, and critically think every "obvious" step in your work - how is it obvious? How do you justify it rigorously in math language?
    Overall, a very good and useful course for math people!

    Dec 2024 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • If you're taking this class, Shane Bauman will absolutely change your experience in it. Watch his videos, go to his office hours, attend his lectures if you can.
    The class itself is pretty difficult, as there's lots of material at a fast pace, especially for first-year. Start the weekly assignments as early as you can.

    Dec 2023 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

3,438 posts and comments in 2,095 threads mention MATH 135, April 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Failed 1 course with 2 withdrawal out of 5 during 1A, 25 points, 7 comments

u/Herrscher_void5637: “Honours Math student, failed an elective course, withdrawal Math137 and CS135, and also a Math135 that’s between 50% and 60%. Probably retaking the whole term in 1B. …”

u/Interesting_Bed6243: “Happens to most of us. I got a 50 in Math 135, a 60 something in Math 137, and withdrawal from cs 135. Try to find out what you did wrong. Going to a different university may not be better.”

u/Realistic-Stomach956: “I remember math 135 and 137 were torture, I swear math here gets smmm better. …”

u/Manga-coder: “Tbh I failed math135, barely passed math137 I had less than 60 too and had to withdraw fail from China 101R. It might not be as bad as yours but trust me it rocked me quite a bit. …”

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Fucked Up Real Bad on my (1a) 17 points, 8 comments

u/masqured: “… You need to retake AFM 101 if it’s a prerequisite for something else and you might also need to retake MATH 135 if you need a mark above 60% for some future courses. Other than that I would actually not call it fucked up real bad. …”

u/chaneltulip: “unless you need afm for a future course u should retake math135 to minimize course repeats. there is a maximum number of unusable course attempts in cs”

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Failed Honours Math 1A(I think?) 16 points, 4 comments

u/D3M0n824482: “So I got kinda cooked in 2/5 of my courses(my Math ones 😭) with a WD in Math 135 and a 42 in Math 137. My other courses are fine, with my grades being a 68 in Commerce, 74 in CS, and 93 in Communication. Anyone know what my next course of action is? …”

u/Zealousideal_Day3646: “Nah you’re fine, all you need to do is just take Math 135 and 137 next term”

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Failed 1A term (Honors Math Co-op) Need Advice 37 points, 17 comments

u/ThinSatisfaction544: “… I WD'd CS 135 and failed Math 135 (37%) and 137 (25%). My communication and elective bought up my average to this. As I do not have access to the advisors during winter break, I request and am open to any advice. …”

u/Conroy119: “… Math 135 was actually a very interesting course once I finally understood it the second time around. …”

u/ChasingZephyr: “You should really contact an advisor in this situation, but otherwise, I want be realistic with you here: can you continue in Math? …”

u/ThinSatisfaction544: “… If I retake the math courses again for example math 135. Will my new average for the course be the one I get on my second attempt or will it be the average of the first failed attempt and the second attempt? …”

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Are there participation/bonus marks in MATH 136 or 138 3 points, 10 comments

“Title. Just wondering because if it weren't for the bonuses my GPA for 1A would've dropped.”

u/Virtual-Violinist-54: “blud wants marks for participating in math courses💀”

u/TempAccJune: “MATH 135, 137, CS 135”

u/TempAccJune: “For CS 135 it is the iClicker multiple choice questions. For MATH 137 it is a daily mathematize problem, and excuse me there are no participation marks for MATH 135”

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Math 128 or math 138? 9 points, 16 comments

“Just finished 1A honours math and got a 75 in math 137 which I'm pretty happy abt considering the fact that i struggled a lot with it 😭😭😭 i noticed that I struggled the most with writing calc proofs …”

u/fasdfsads: “Just take 138, if you got a 75 in 137 you aren't by any means lacking or unprepared for 138. In fact, I believe a 75 would put you above the class average.”

u/fasdfsads: “Well for 137 it was 69 last year and low 70s for math 135 and cs 135.”

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Math 138 or Math 128 6 points, 5 comments

“Im a math/bba double degree and am desperate need for help. I passed math 137 but didn’t get the 60+ requirement to progress to math 138. …”

u/123448account: “You absolutely wouldn’t have to retake math 137 if you took math 128, however in order to take math 237 you will need a 70+ in math 128 (which imo is reasonable to achieve). …”

u/123448account: “just double checked the requirement is a 60+ in math 135 so assuming they got that 137 shouldn’t impact it!”

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Failed CS 135 54 points, 28 comments

u/rgtb123: “… Got 88 in MATH 137 and 86 in MATH 135 but absolutely bombed CS 135. I dropped into honours math and cs from the advanced ones right before the honors midterms and for some reason I bombed 2/3 of the midterms. Got 55 in MATH 135 and 53 in CS 135. …”

u/Intelligent-Show-815: “Clearly you are doing something right given you got an 88 and 86 in math 135/7. Take a deep breath because atleast you are not fucked given most students struggle with math more than cs. CS 135 is the backbone of ur cs courses and if you failed I would go into why you failed? …”

u/rgtb123: “… Same goes for Math 135. About 30-40% was highschool review and I just put in the bare minimum effort for math. Personally, I would say the amount of effort I put in for math and cs are leagues apart. …”

u/EmperorChain: “High 80s in Math 135 is insane, honestly I would just retake the cs course”

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Am I cooked? 11 points, 16 comments

u/Sorry_Estimate_1714: “Im in BBA/BMath Laurier side. Got a 57 in math135 and 50 in math137, absolutely do not want to retake this shit, but its still not technically a fail because its in between 50 and 60. I emailed my 135 prof to roundup to a 60 cus 57 is close enough. what else do I do?”

u/pothoslover04: “I honestly don’t know about rounding up to a 60 for math 135, but I was in the same situation in my 1A term in terms of not getting the 60 requirements. You can take math 128 in the winter semester instead of math 138, you just have to get over a 70. …”

u/Whole-Bumblebee-9127: “Why do you have to retake math135 if you get under a 60?”

u/CSplays: “If you’re in CS, you’re kind of cooked for math 135 and will need to retake. However, if you’re in math, you can take math 106 I think? Idk how much that impacts your ability to take math 235 though. You’d have to ask an advisor.”

u/_wowfantasticbaby_: “… honestly MATH135 is particular sucks ass but it’s genuinely a really important course for the rest of ur undergrad. retake it and focus on trying to understand the concepts instead of memorizing solutions; it’ll help you down the line. …”

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