Math class advice

[Samadhi]

I'm looking for a class to take this summer, and I've run into a snag. I took second semester calculus back in 91(?) and despite the fact that they have my transcripts, my college now is not qualifying me for classes that need Calc II as a pre-req.

So as it stands I can't take Intro to Linear Algebra but it appears I can take Calc II.

I know I could go down to the school and get them to waive it so I could enroll in Intro...but...

Taking Intro
Pros: One class closer to graduation. I can also take the class at City which is close(r).
Con: It's an 8 week class and I'll miss a week because of jeepcon and I don't know how tough it will be.

Re-taking CalcII
Pro: I got a C originally (never did homework) and I know I could get an A now. A refresher would be nice after 14 years.
Con: $$ and it's at Mesa, which is farther than City (actually closer, but the bus goes there via alaska or something)

If anyone's taken Intro, I'd like to hear something about it. The description is the sux.

[wordcross]

Here are the blurbs from NC State's Course Catalog. I don't know how comparable they are to wherever you'd go, so there's both "Elementary" LA and "Intro to" LA and matrices

http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/reg_records/crs_cat/MA.html#MA305

http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/reg_records/crs_cat/MA.html#MA405

I took 305, the "elementary" Linear Algebra and it's pretty straight forward. If I'd been paying attention, I probably could have gotten an A. (I got a C, iirc)

You don't really *need* Calc II to take Linear Algebra, just for the occasional integration of vectors or some such thing. I'm sure you can look up the what you need at such times.
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Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

[GH]

Disclaimer: I am old. (I have been out of college for over 15 years.)

1. I remember taking Calc II. It was easy. I took Advanced Calc after that, and I didn't think it was all that hard. Analysis: I think you would breeeze Calc II.

2. I had a choice between Linear Algebra and Matrix Algebra. I took Matrix Algebra, which was painfully simple. I heard that Linear was harder, but I knew some of the people in the class, and they wouldn't have passed it if it actually was hard. Analysis: You may find Linear Algebra interesting, but it's not likely to be too challenging.


Overall analysis: I went to school with a bunch of morons. My classes were dumbed so far down that I did not study, ever, and still got A's. If you will also be in class with morons, you will have no problem with either class, and should decide based on whether refreshing your Calculus justifies spending the extra cash.

(Note: If Linear turns out to be too challenging, you could drop/audit/flunk it, and then take it again in the fall, with the advantage of having seen it all before, and essentially on the same schedule as if you had spent the summer taking Calc II.)

[Samadhi]

Yeah, Calc II was super easy for me too. If I'd done the homework I would have gotten an easy A. Ahhhh...youth.

It's just been so long I don't remember *anything*

[Leptonn]

Vote: Linear Algebra

Chances are that you will forget the math by the time you need to use it and will have to go back and re-learn it anyway. Linear isn't hard, and its especially easy when you take it in a single swoop. I did that last summer when I needed to pick up an easy math course. For me, at least, the summer course was filled with elementary school teachers looking for an upgrade, so my A+ was almost automatic. I skipped half the classes to make out with my girlfriend. I'm not that good at maths.

[Peter H]

Take linear algebra.

You'll take both eventually if you're majoring in math or any other subject where math might be useful. The deciding factor is that linear algebra might help you understand calculus (I'd require it for multivariable calc or diffeq.) Calculus won't help you at all with linear algebra.

[mithy]

If you're worried about the week you'll miss, I need to brush up on my teaching skillz for next term...

[austinap]

I voted calc II... but really it depends on what you plan on going into. If you're going to be a math/physics/engineering major you should take them both anyways. I personally would favor a progression something like calc II -> linear algebra -> diff eq. -> partial diff. eq / nonlinear dynamics. (assuming you don't forget all of your calc while taking linear... )

either way, they're both pretty fundamental classes and will help with just about anything. Hell, take 'em both!