Taking Calculus II & Linear Algebra: Is It Too Much?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of taking Calculus II and Linear Algebra concurrently in a semester, as well as the implications of taking Linear Algebra in a condensed summer course format. Participants share their experiences and perceptions regarding the difficulty of Linear Algebra and its importance in the context of further studies in mathematics and physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about the workload of taking Calculus II and Linear Algebra simultaneously, questioning if it is too much to handle.
  • Others suggest that Linear Algebra is manageable and may even be suitable as a summer course, with one participant stating it was straightforward for them.
  • One participant notes that while the material in Linear Algebra was not overly challenging, the volume of content could be significant, especially in a short time frame.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of mastering Linear Algebra for those intending to pursue graduate studies in mathematics, suggesting that foundational knowledge is crucial.
  • Some participants challenge the notion that two courses could be too much, questioning the rationale behind such concerns.
  • A participant shares their experience of taking multiple advanced courses, indicating that they found Linear Algebra to be the most difficult among them, contrasting with others' views.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether taking both courses together is advisable, as opinions vary widely regarding the difficulty of Linear Algebra and the capacity to manage multiple courses.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention personal experiences that highlight variability in teaching quality and individual comprehension, which may affect perceptions of course difficulty.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering taking Calculus II and Linear Algebra concurrently or in a short semester, as well as those interested in the challenges of advanced mathematics courses.

lubuntu
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Do you think that taking Calculus II and Linear Algebra in the same semester is too much? Or should I be fine? How hard is Linear Algebra?

EDIT: I can't take them the same semester I just found out, do you think it is wise to take LA in a short semester over the summer, like 4 weeks?
 
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lubuntu said:
Do you think that taking Calculus II and Linear Algebra in the same semester is too much? Or should I be fine? How hard is Linear Algebra?

EDIT: I can't take them the same semester I just found out, do you think it is wise to take LA in a short semester over the summer, like 4 weeks?

In my experience, Lin. Alg. was pretty easy... you can probably handle it with other courses, or it'd probably be great as a summer course.
 
Linear Algebra was one of the few math courses that didn't require me to make difficult leaps of logic, i.e. bashing my head against the wall until I went "Aha!" It was all mostly straight-forward.

It's a very useful class, though.

EDIT: In a short amount of time? I'm not sure. The material wasn't super challenging, but I remember there being a lot of it in my class. And linear algebra is way too important to gloss over if you want to do physics.
 
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If you plan on going to grad school for mathematics make sure you spend the appropriate amount of time learning linear algebra the right way. You will be lost in a first course of Algebra without having the basics down.
 
lubuntu said:
Do you think that taking Calculus II and Linear Algebra in the same semester is too much? Or should I be fine? How hard is Linear Algebra?

How can two courses be too much to handle in one semester?
 
lubuntu said:
Do you think that taking Calculus II and Linear Algebra in the same semester is too much? Or should I be fine? How hard is Linear Algebra?

EDIT: I can't take them the same semester I just found out, do you think it is wise to take LA in a short semester over the summer, like 4 weeks?

This fall i personally took: Calculus II, Linear Algebra( a first undergrad course) and Abstract Algebra (a first undergraduate course).

I think you should be perfectly fine.
 
cristo said:
How can two courses be too much to handle in one semester?

It would have been these two along with two others, over the point is moot now. As a physics major would I do myself a disservice to take LA over a short 4 week term?
 
In the semester that just finished, I took honours multivariable calc, honours linear algebra, and differential equations. I still can't say how well those turned out though since the results aren't out.

Funny, for me, my linear algebra was by far the hardest of the three. I don't "get it" as much as the other two, plus my prof totally sucked. I fear for my mark in Linear Algebra.
 

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