Linear algebra/Calc III before ODE?

[cue928]

I'm curious how many people have taken a calculus course that invokes vectors and/or linear algebra before starting ODE? I did neither, as my school did not require it, and the tail end of ODE is excruciating because we are hitting on vectors and topics from LA that I do not have. So in addition to learning ODE, I am now working to hit those topics too. Just curious what others' experience has been...

 

[C.Cochran]

I thought Linear Algebra was more complicated than all of the calculus courses. I am not sure, I'm working on learning calculus myself on Kahn Academy and i skipped formal Geometry and Trig in high school. What is ODE?

 

[Farmergregor]

ODE = Ordinary Differential Equation

I took linear algebra and vector calculus before ODE. However, my school only requires linear algebra as prerequisites before taking a course in ODEs.

I did not use vector calculus in the ODE course I took but plenty of linear algebra. In hindsight, the ODE course would have been much more work without having taken a course in linear algebra. It is odd your school does not require linear algebra as a prerequisite.

 

[General_Sax]

I took LA + calcIII prior to the differential equations -- ODE + PDE -- course I'm taking now

 

[Chunkysalsa]

I'm currently doing Calc III and ODE and plan on doing LA next semester. I didn't need any Calc 3 stuff (except maybe a bit of partial derivatives) but LA is a huge part of ODE.

I didn't need to know any LA to solve any equations for ODE (except finding determinants) but the entire theory is linked to LA. I wish I could have done LA before ODE but LA is a extra class for me while ODE is a prereq to one my major classes (circuit analysis)

 

[cue928]

I'm surprised too. It seems like a lot of extra work to learn the section we are on now...and I don't kid myself, since I don't have the LA background, I am sure I don't have as deep of understanding on current topics as I would if I'd had it already.

 

[HeLiXe]

Hi Cue928 :) Thanks for starting this thread. I'm finishing CalcII now and was going to take differential equations over the summer. Now I'm wondering if I should just do Calc III over the summer and differential equations in the Fall. I'll keep following this thread. Thx again!

 

[cue928]

Depends on how your calc sequence is divided up. We are not exposed to vectors until C-3, which is a prereq to LA. Depending on what your prereqs are for LA, I'd say based on my experience that it is more important to have LA than anything else.

 

[HeLiXe]

Vectors will be in calcIII for me too. Thanks for the advice!

 

[cue928]

Willkommen!