Which Math Course is More Essential for a Physics Major?

[jbrussell93]

Matrix Theory. 3 Credits.
Basic properties of matrices, determinants, vector spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and Jordan normal forms. Introduction to writing proofs.

Applied Analysis. 3 Credits.
Solution of the standard partial differential equations (wave, heat, Laplace's eq.) by separation of variables and transform methods; including eigenfunction expansions, Fourier and Laplace transform. Boundary value problems, Sturm-Liouville theory, orthogonality, Fourier, Bessel, and Legendre series, spherical harmonics.
I've taken the standard calc, ODE, statistics, and mathematical methods. I haven't had a formal linear algebra course though I've gotten some exposure in my other courses. I've had little exposure to solving PDEs so I'm leaning towards applied analysis. What do you guys think is the more essential math course for a physics major?

 

[ZapperZ]

What exactly did you do in your "mathematical methods" course? Shouldn't you have covered linear algebra/matrices and special functions in such a course?

Zz.

 

[SteamKing]

I think you'll have to bite the bullet and take both courses eventually.

 

[jbrussell93]

What exactly did you do in your "mathematical methods" course? Shouldn't you have covered linear algebra/matrices and special functions in such a course?

Zz.

Complex analysis, ODE review, Fourier transforms/series, vector analysis, and some tensor analysis. We did not cover special functions. We covered eigen value problems related to diagnalizing matrices but not much outside of that. I feel like I got a bit gyped in that class actually...