I need to take Linear Algebra to progress in my major and the course has Calculus III listed as a prerequisite. I've already taken Calculus III and passed with a C, although I didn't learn the smallest bit of it the entire semester (not a good semester for me). Should I reteach myself Calculus III and hold off on taking Linear Algebra until I do, or would that be a waste of time and should I just go ahead and take the Linear Algebra course? I really don't want to waste time teaching myself something I already took...but if I really need the knowledge, I might.
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
6
-
4$\begingroup$ Yes, in fact you should $\endgroup$– Gregory GrantCommented Feb 15, 2016 at 3:57
-
$\begingroup$ Here's another Yes. You may find that linear algebra complements multivariable calculus nicely. $\endgroup$– BrianOCommented Feb 15, 2016 at 4:00
-
2$\begingroup$ Listing Calculus III as a prerequisite is probably more of a "maturity" barrier than a "you'll be doing line integrals like crazy in linear algebra so you'd better have learned those first!" barrier. I.e., another "yes." $\endgroup$– pjs36Commented Feb 15, 2016 at 4:05
-
1$\begingroup$ Take linear algebra now, calculus won't help you much, in fact, you'll understand various concepts of multi variable calc thanks to linear algebra. $\endgroup$– YoTengoUnLCDCommented Feb 15, 2016 at 4:26
-
1$\begingroup$ Talk to the person who is teaching the course. She is in a better position to answer than anyone on this website. $\endgroup$– Gerry MyersonCommented Feb 15, 2016 at 6:29
|
Show 1 more comment
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
Go ahead, you can graduate without knowing how to integrate proprely in $n$ dimension...
Anyway usually in Italy Linear Algebra is taken the first Year in both Physics and Mathematics, while multivariable calculus is done the second Year.
Indeed not only it is not a prerequisite to understand the subject, but could very well be quite the contrary being Linear Algebra quite helpful in understanding Calculus III.
Indeed the prerequisites of a standard Linear Algebra course are very few, but there could be more advanced courses of Linear Algebra where the study of linear Algebra is applied to some specific topic (e.g. Differential Equations, Operator Theory, etc...). In this case it may be needed a knowledge of calculus, but usually just the very basics of one or multiple variables. Generally speaking even in this courses the most calculus-involving construction you'll see is the Jacobian.
