/sci/ - Science & Math

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Hey guys, I come seeking some advice.

So I just finished my senior year of highschool and the corresponding exams, and I have some free time now over the Christmas period while I wait to start my Engineering course at University. Anyway, I have a couple of Computer Science courses that I will be doing next year as part of my introductory year to Engineering, and I know from friends that they mainly utilize the Python programming language. I'm looking to gain a bit of a head start by at least starting to learn some of the basics of Python over the holidays - would anyone of you kind gents be able to recommend some resources? I've downloaded a bunch of PDFs and such, but I'd prefer to have some feedback on what you guys consider to be the best textbook (or other resource) for learning Python.

Thanks!

tl;dr - I'm considering Computer Engineering, but I'm worried about its difficulty and the possibility of not being intelligent enough to complete the course. I enjoy Computer software, hardware, and general technology, as well as its scientific applications. I'm mediocre at Physics and even more mediocre at Calculus. What do I do?

I'm really interested by both the hardware and the software in technology such as computers and robotic, and am also really interested in bio-technology and the implementation of recent technology into daily livelihood, from gadgetry to potential cures for disease and the like. I basically find modern science and technology very fascinating and enjoyable.

Now, I've graduated high school, and have been considering going into engineering and majoring in Computer Engineering, but the problem is that I'm not naturally very intelligent when it comes to Calculus and Physics. I've achieved adequate results in both subjects to grant me access into first year Engineering, sure, but only just, and while I find that I enjoy both once I begin to grasp the subject at hand, neither of them (especially Calculus) are very 'intuitive'.

So here's my dilemma - My father was an Electrical Engineer, and is quite enthusiastic about me going into engineering, and I think that a Computer Engineering degree is right up my alley, however I have a lot of apprehension as to just how hard such a degree may be.

>Is engineering as hard as everyone claims it is?
>Are there any degrees that sound more suited for me, given my interests and mediocrity at Mathematics and Physics?
>Any advice whatsoever, please? I'm worried about going into a degree I'm not intelligent enough to come out of, but I'm also worried about doing something that isn't as fulfilling and full of opportunities.

I feel backed into a corner.

So I'm considering enrolling at Uni for an Engineering degree (Ideally majoring in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering.. Or perhaps Mechatronics - it all fascinates me) but I'm a bit apprehensive as to just how hard the course is. I'm prepared to put the work in, but I'm worried that I'm simply not intelligent enough to actually make it through such a hard degree. I've been studying calculus and physics like the fist of the north star, as well as learning some programming and com. science stuff, and while I seem to be naturally inclined for the computer software/programming side of things, I'm godawful at calc and pretty mediocre at physics as well. I guess I'm just looking for advice here - what do you guys think about my situation? I know you obviously can't gauge what my level of ineptitude is, but I'd appreciate responses from perhaps people who have gone through similar degrees or know about what kind of work it entails.

Thankyee kindly.

Hi. I'm an idiot.

I'm taking a math class this semester. I missed class friday, and now have to do a whole slew of problems like this one:

12x^2 + 5x - 2 = 0

Can someone explain to me or hand me a helpful link to explain how I solve problems like this? I tried solving it like a normal equation, but that didn't work. (For this example, I ended up at x=-1/4x for instance, which is obviously wrong).

I really don't know what to do here, so anything you guys can offer would be appreciated.