Math classes to self study physics

[transphenomen]

I will be attempting to get a PhD in statistics eventually though I have yet to get my BS, however, in the mean time I have a few electives I need to fill and I want them to help me in my self study of relativity and quantum mechanics. I will not be surpassing a Master's knowledge of these areas and I probably won't even get that far, but I would like to know which math classes will give me the best grounding as I read up on physics in my spare time.

 

[Kindayr]

Any and all math is always nice to have in your toolkit when it comes to many things in general.

For Special Relativity: linear algebra can be nice (i know its even formulated in chapter 6.9 by Friedberg's Linear Algebra axiomatically). Usually the second half of a second year pure math course will cover enough in inner spaces to help out.

For General Relativity: Differential Geometry is -the- math that is used.

For Quantum Mechanics: Linear Algebra again (used to be called Matrix Mechanics in Heisenberg's formulation), complex analysis, functional analysis, and stats.

Like anything else, its good to get a background of these topics before delving into them directly if you're not used to a 'pure' mathematical approach.