what college math classes could i take in high school?

glen37

So this summer I'm thinking about taking some community college classes so my summer isn't a total waste. I've taken precalc, ap physics b, and ap chemistry. I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas of which classes would be mo

Applied Physics
General Physics and Calculus 1
College Algebra
Calculus and Analytical Geometry 1
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra

I'm not sure which require calculus but I have a basic grasp already of fundamentals and I'm teaching myself more.

ice109

you can safely take calc 1, linear algebra, and physics 1. college algebra is like alg 1 + 2 from high school so you got that covered already.

glen37

will physics 1 be anything i haven't learned from ap physics B?

ice109

nope but you're gonna have to take in anyway so you might as well get it over

axeae

If it's calculus based, maybe---it might be easier to tell if you post course descriptions, you might also want to post one for physics II, which should be things you haven't seen from ap physics b.

glen37

alright we'll i don't think i'm going to take physics over the summer anyway. would calc1 and linear algebra be fine to take at the same time? Over the summer i'm not going anywhere so i have the time.

Nabeshin

Umm, you could do this. Traditionally linear algebra comes after both calc I and calc II, but it's not really necessary to know derivatives or integrals for 95% of the material in LA.

glen37

ok thanks for the help. i already know derivatives and integrals too.

Feldoh

Why would you do this? I mean if you take all of these classes over the summer then what are you going to do when your regular school starts up again? There's no rush to take these classes...

Try getting a job and enjoying summer it sucks when you don't get 3 months of the year off, enjoy it.

glen37

lol i'd rather take math classes than have a job. i'm a senior in high school next year and i just like math.

ice109

don't listen to feldoh. take the classes. a job sucks much more than coursework

snipez90

Ultimately, it's your decision but I would advise you to study calculus more in-depth on your own time. You claim to have the basics of calculus down and judging from your classes in school, I doubt you would benefit much from a CC calculus course.

Ask yourself if you are really willing to study more advanced math in-depth. Going through a calculus text like Spivak and using this forum wisely is a viable option. It all depends on how responsible you are for your own learning.

ice109

no, no it's not. it's nearly impossible to make clear all but the simplest concepts with out on one conversation.

take the class, read spivak, ask your professor questions outside of class. even if you feel you don't learn it completely and need to retake it, you'll breeze through it the second time.

why in the world would any tell this kid not to do this? i was, and still am, so jealous of the kids who were able to do this in high school and thereby get a head start on the truly interesting stuff in math in uni.

snipez90

What, dude you are giving some pretty misinformed advice.

First of all, it's not "nearly impossible" to make clear of the concepts. I was in a similar position as the OP two years ago as a junior in HS and if he's not lazy, he can easily self-study calculus.

From your statements, I conclude that you haven't actually read Spivak. It's probably a hell of a lot more conversational than a CC teacher would be.

There's no need to retake it if he learns it well the first time. Maybe you should put your jealousy aside and weigh the benefits and detriments of taking a CC calc course. Seriously, what is the point of taking a course that surely would not be using a wonderful text like Spivak (I wouldn't put all my faith behind the teacher either) and then reading Spivak at the same time? This is ridiculous. Just reading a text like Spivak and thinking about the problems will help the OP become a better problem-solver WHILE learning calculus.

qntty

As someone who self-studied calculus, I'm with snipez90. It was pretty straightforward, and if one has trouble with a concept then forums can explain things well. CC math courses are fine if you want to prove you've been taking math classes after finishing all the courses at a high school but generally go too slow for someone who wants a challenge.

maze

Linear algebra is my advice.

ice109

actually i've read spivak's calculus on manifolds. my grand point is WHAT POSSIBLE detriment could there be? there's nothing ridiculous about my suggestion. at the stage that he's at he needs feedback at least. a book will not provide that for him. discussion with a live professor will. and these forums are terrible. there's a reason why professor's use chalkboards and speak during classes instead of just transcribing text onto those boards. there are simply certain concepts that require more than words to intimate.
that's a silly presumption. unless you've attended the cc he will attend and taken the class he will take by the professor he study under you can't claim any such thing. my physics class at CC were 10 fold better than any i've taken at uni.