- #1
drkatzin
- 28
- 0
Hi,
I'm a junior undergrad majoring in math and physics, and am deciding between complex analysis and topology for next semester. (I'm planning on doing theoretical physics for grad, something on the more mathematical side, so topology would likely be used).
Complex Analysis
Pros: ESSENTIAL to master for physics, offered only in spring
Cons: they switched the textbook to one I've already read a good chunk of (analytic functions, contour integration, taylor/laurent series). Don't know how much more I can get out of the class, other than mastering contour integrals and figuring out when, not just how, to use complex analysis. But I think that stuff would be taught in physics classes anyway.
Textbook: Brown and Churchill (used to be Ahlfors)
Topology
Pros: beautiful subject, prereq for algebraic topology (used in higher level theoretical physics).
Cons: The book is so good that I can probably teach myself everything in the course. The course also moves pretty slowly, starting with a review of general math topics I already know (e.g. cardinality, functions, relations)
Textbook: Munkres
Which one do you think I should take?
Thanks!
I'm a junior undergrad majoring in math and physics, and am deciding between complex analysis and topology for next semester. (I'm planning on doing theoretical physics for grad, something on the more mathematical side, so topology would likely be used).
Complex Analysis
Pros: ESSENTIAL to master for physics, offered only in spring
Cons: they switched the textbook to one I've already read a good chunk of (analytic functions, contour integration, taylor/laurent series). Don't know how much more I can get out of the class, other than mastering contour integrals and figuring out when, not just how, to use complex analysis. But I think that stuff would be taught in physics classes anyway.
Textbook: Brown and Churchill (used to be Ahlfors)
Topology
Pros: beautiful subject, prereq for algebraic topology (used in higher level theoretical physics).
Cons: The book is so good that I can probably teach myself everything in the course. The course also moves pretty slowly, starting with a review of general math topics I already know (e.g. cardinality, functions, relations)
Textbook: Munkres
Which one do you think I should take?
Thanks!