Fourier analysis - prerequisites

[conjectures]

I was wondering at what point most students encounter Fourier analysis and what the prerequisites are considered to be?

 

[micromass]

I'd say you have to know calculus and linear algebra fairly well. With that knowledge, you can already do quite a bit of Fourier analysis.

If you want to do more theoretical things, then following a course in real analysis and functional analysis seems necessary.

 

[Chunkysalsa]

Most students (at my school) encounter Fourier Analysis in Partial Differential Equations if they are math majors and Circuit Analysis II (with more use in a Systems and Signals course) if they are EE majors.

To use the techniques from Fourier Analysis, you need integration as well as a good working knowledge of complex numbers and trigonometric functions. Understanding it requires Linear Algebra.

Thats as far as I know. This is coming from a EE who just took linear algebra.

 

[conjectures]

Thanks for the replies.

I suspect it's the complex numbers / trigonometry that I should be working on further. Any recommended resources?

My background is primarily economics so have some [perhaps passable] calculus and linear algebra.

I'm at one of those points where I feel I get/can follow something, but not deeply enough to replicate independently in an applied context.