# Can I take Linear Algebra without having learned Vector Calculus?

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.

• Yes, in fact you should – Gregory Grant Feb 15 '16 at 3:57
• Here's another Yes. You may find that linear algebra complements multivariable calculus nicely. – BrianO Feb 15 '16 at 4:00
• 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." – pjs36 Feb 15 '16 at 4:05
• 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. – YoTengoUnLCD Feb 15 '16 at 4:26
• Talk to the person who is teaching the course. She is in a better position to answer than anyone on this website. – Gerry Myerson Feb 15 '16 at 6:29

Go ahead, you can graduate without knowing how to integrate proprely in $n$ dimension...