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Do physics and electrical engineering majors need Real Analysis? Is real analysis pure or applied math?
It depends entirely on your interests and future plans. Different people need different things and different people like different things so as it stands your question is amorphous. I'm a physics major for example and I can't in any reasonable way predict what I will end up doing in grad school but I took real analysis simply because I love pure math (and yes real analysis would generally fall under pure math). If you mean "need" in a very general, bare minimum sense then no.
Pretty much every physics professor I've ever asked has said no, and I would have to agree with them. That's not to say you shouldn't take it if you really like the subject of course. I know you're doing a joint mathematics/physics program so regardless of whether real analysis is essential or not in the given context, you should probably check the program requirements to see if real analysis is mandatory or not as well; if it's mandatory well then that's that isn't it :)?Hi WannabeNewton,
I think a real analysis course would be useful for a Math Phys major, but do you think it is essential?
Definitely, definitely go with the DE and complex variables option if you are under time constraints; I'm sure your university would tell you the same.When I spoke to you before, my intention was to take the real Analysis course over the Algebra but because of more timetable constraints I am now in a position of taking differential equations and complex variables instead.
I find the subject rather challenging, and I do find it interesting. I recall you mentioning that is a stepping stone to functional analysis which is pivotal to rigorously understanding QM. But I suppose I could certainly self study this.Pretty much every physics professor I've ever asked has said no, and I would have to agree with them. That's not to say you shouldn't take it if you really like the subject of course.
Just out of interest, why do you think these are more important? - more applicable to physics?Definitely, definitely go with the DE and complex variables option if you are under time constraints; I'm sure your university would tell you the same.
Yes.Just out of interest, why do you think these are more important? - more applicable to physics?
I was a double major Physics/Math so I had to take it anyways. Real analysis was (imo) a fun course, and I have had the luxury of using it in my physics courses
I recall you mentioning that is a stepping stone to functional analysis which is pivotal to rigorously understanding QM.
"We often hear that mathematics consists mainly of "proving theorems." Is a writer's job mainly that of "writing sentences?"" - Gian-Carlo RotaIt is usually an exercise in writing proofs ... as are most senior level math courses.
I took real analysis in undergrad, went on to get a phd in theoretical physics and now work as a statistician/data-miner and I can't recall a single time when real analysis has been helpful, outside of the real analysis class.