<p>Actually, I think taking linear algebra before Calc III is better than the other direction is around.</p>
<p>Reason being, for an intro linear algebra course you (typically) need almost no Calc 3 whatsoever. However, Calc 3 uses linear algebra concepts throughout the wazoo. </p>
<p>When I took calc 3, I had already taken lots of linear algebra so the concepts were all familar. Most of the rest of the class, on the other hand, took calc 3 before linear algebra and had to muck their way through the material not really understanding where it came from and how it was derived.</p>
<p>This is not to say you can't take Calc 3 without linear algebra. Lots of people do and do just fine. I'm just saying, that in order to really truly understand what you're doing and learning in calc 3 you have to know linear algebra</p>
<p>I don't know, my friend at Cal is telling me otherwise. He said in Cal, multi variable calculus is a requirement for linear algebra and that it's one of the hardest math class there or so he says. I obviously believed him when he told me since he's still getting a 4.0 there after taking hardcore math and science classes.</p>
<p>if you're confused, then don't listen to me :) If what I said is counter to everything else you've heard then it's likely that it's just my experience and not that way in general.</p>
<p>It could be that the particular linear algebra course at Cal goes all the way into partial differential equations, in which case it would be necessary to have calc 3 as a prereq. But I would find it highly unusual that PDE's would find their way into an intro to linear algebra course; those are typically reserved for dedicated diffeq classes...perhaps at cal they mix it up :)</p>
<p>I did great in multivariable calculus without taking linear algebra. I have 2 exams with 100%. We had 5 exams plus 1 final exam. Calculus 3 and linear algebra is NOT closely related at all but differential equations is closely related to linear algebra especially the chapter of "system of differential equations." So finishing linear algebra before taking differential equation is a good idea.</p>
<p>To moonboy403: Do you go to PCC? If so, did you take Math 10 with Wang last semester (Spring)? If so, you probably saw me. I was the student who came into Dr. Wang's class for recommendations. </p>
<p>I took Math 10 with Wang, Math 5C/55 with Encinas, and Math 5B with Gallup. To be frankly I thought Wang and Gallup were really good professors, they were not that difficult. Encinas, on the other hand, made my life very difficult, he sucks at teaching. </p>
<p>P.S. - Physics with Dr. Shi makes me want to crawl into a fetal position and cry. </p>
<p>yes, i was in that class, and i remember seeing you (with glasses?). </p>
<p>I didn't do very well on the first test (though I aced all the quizzes), and I ended up dropping that class cause I was pretty frightened by his harsh grading on the test.</p>
<p>On a side note, you're definitely right about Encinas not being able to teach for jack; he even teaches us incorrect way of doing a problem. Though I got an A in that class, I had to teach myself everything! He was so bad that I was the only person who got an A in the class; probably because eveyone else relied on Encinas so badly.</p>
<p>As for you fellow PCC students, I have Uyekawa for Math 5C and Rinderle for Math 10 in the upcoming Fall semester, how would you guys rate them?</p>
<p>Yah I was wearing glasses with the shaved head look. </p>
<p>Uyekawa, is a good professor I heard, just a bit much homework I hear. </p>
<p>As for physics:</p>
<p>Yah, I took Dr. Shi for Physics 1A-1C. My only Bs are in Dr. Shi's physics class. His grading style is good except he doesn't care about cheating which sadly a lot of people cheat.</p>
<p>For 1A/1B I had an A up until the final, the finals are quite hard especially the Boltzman gas problem for 1B. For Physics 1C, he tore me a new hole due to my courseload (23 units).</p>
<p>TB54, no, I don't think people cheat in Dr.Shi class; in my 1B class, my class were pretty strong, I have seen at least 4 4.0 students (3 of them are my physics lab partners and yeah they almost always ruin the curve, they have 25+ out of 30 most of the time, one person get above 30+ once or twice), I have NOT even seen a case of cheating throughout the whole semester in his class. </p>
<p>You can't ace or even get a B on his tests until you really study for them, cheating do no good!</p>