calculus III vs multivariable calculus for physics major.

<p>Well, im still undecided but im leaning toward physics major.
I looked at the recommended course schedule for physics major and it seems i need to take either multivariable calculus or calculus III in the first semester.
I got 5 on bc calculus so that will take care of my integral calculus requirement.
so what should i do now?
which one should i go for?</p>

<p>plus if a science course and math course are placed next to each other on the same days, am i gonna be killed?</p>

<p>If Math 2220 (Multivariable Calculus) is the class you’re referring to, it’s the second part of a sequence that starts with Math 2210 (Linear Algebra). Depending on your level of comfort with linear algebra, you may not want to jump into Math 2220, so if you absolutely have to choose between Multivariable Calculus and Calc 3, I’d say opt for the latter. That said, Calc 3 is designed for those who’re not in math-intensive majors and I’d say physics is as mathematically intensive as it gets outside of math itself, so Calc 3 might not challenge you as much as you would like. The choice is entirely yours, but write to the appropriate folks in the math/physics departments; I’m sure Linear Algebra will be an option and if it is, take that.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.physics.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/courses.pdf[/url]”>http://www.physics.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/courses.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
if you look at the honors stream, you may notice P2217 requires ‘vector calculus’ and its co requisite is ‘differential equation’
Since, math 2220 corresponds to ‘vector calculus’ and differential equation is math 2930
should i take those in first and second semesters respectively? with linear algebra in the first semester of my sophomore year.
At least that is what i got from the diagram shown as an example.
I contacted them but nobody answered. i wil try again</p>

<p>If you are taking the engineering math sequence, you should be taking Math 1920 with 1116, 2930 with 1117, and 2940 with 1118.</p>

<p>Multivariable Calc, Math 2220, uses a little linear algebra (eigenvalues), and the rest is pretty much independent. Most people take math 2220 before math 2210; i knew 4 others besides myself who took them in the same semester.</p>

<p>does that mean i can take math 2220 in the fall semester and linear algebra 2210 in the spring semester?</p>

<p>and im not taking engineering sequence.
Im taking physics honors stream and choosing math classes required by or recommended by physics department</p>

<p>MVC is easy after you’ve aced BC Calc… all it is is adding another variable.</p>

<p>By the way- Linear algebra is very enjoyable.</p>

<p>so im still confused as to which one to take between multivariable calculus, calculusIII and linear algebra.
I am to follow the physics honors stream and according to the physics department recommendation, i should take mvc, and differential equations in the first and second semesters of my freshman year.
But, it seems, if i follow the proper sequence recommended by math department, it should be linear algebra, mvc, and differential equation.
what should i do?</p>

<p>Linear algebra you could definitely handle so do that first…then mvc…then differentials (partial derivatives mainly)</p>

<p>Hi, </p>

<p>I found myself recently in the same predicament as the OP. So even though the Math dept. says that 2210 is a prereq for 2220, we can take 2220 before 2210?</p>

<p>I mean, since the course of study says 2220 (or equivalent course for vector calc) is a prereq for PHYS2213, we would need to take MATH2220 in the fall even though MATH2210 (Linear Alg) is a prerequisite for 2220</p>