Should i finish Arfken's book in undergrad?

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Completing advanced mathematical methods books like Arfken's during an undergraduate physics program is not typically necessary. Most students only cover a fraction of such texts in their courses, often having already encountered significant portions of the material in prerequisite classes like calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. It's common for undergraduates to engage with these resources selectively rather than finishing them entirely. The focus should be on understanding key concepts and applying them effectively in coursework and problem-solving.
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Hello , I am Physics undergrad on my 1 st year. I have worked out most of the chapters from Riley Benson Hobsons Mathematical Methods for Physics and Enginnering. Now i want to Do Arfkans book. Now the thing i want to know is that is it absolutely necessary to finish it in undergrad level ?
 
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No undergrad finishes books like these. In a math methods course, you might make it through a quarter or third of the book. You most likely have already covered another quarter in your prereq courses like calculus or linear algebra or differential equations.
 
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jedishrfu said:
No undergrad finishes books like these. In a math methods course, you might make it through a quarter or third of the book. You most likely have already covered another quarter in your prereq courses like calculus or linear algebra or differential equations.
Thanks a lot for your suggestions. :) :smile::smile:
 

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