<p>I am a BME major, and I am definitely expecting a 5 on my Calc BC AP test. I am thinking of skipping Calc I & II, and just start with Linear Algebra and then Calc III or Differential Equations. My first question is, as a BME, should I be concerned with the order I take these classes? I noticed that the suggested order for these classes is slightly different for BME from the suggested order for ChemE. If anyone has any suggestion, that would be great.</p>
<p>I also noticed that there are the "honors" variant for these classes. From what I have learned, these classes seem more reserved for the math majors. I do like math, along with other sciences (why I chose engineering in the first place), and I am considering double major in math. Would it make any sense for me to enroll in these honor variants? Or would the regular classes serve me better? Thanks in advance for all the help.</p>
<p>As for math classes, after Calc II, you can take LinAlg, DiffEq and Calc III in any order. The BME program recommends Calc III last simply because you absolutely have to know Linear Algebra and Differential Equations for the classes you take spring of sophomore year, but you don’t need to know Calc III for those courses. As for a “recommended” order, I would personally recommend taking Linear Algebra before Differential Equations because DiffEq uses a bit of LinAlg. The DiffEq professor will explain all the linear algebra you need to know during class, but what they tell you is just the minimum you need to solve differential equations, and if you’ve already taken LinAlg, you’ll know what you’re actually doing (as opposed to going through the motions and getting the answer). Linear Algebra does include a little bit of Calc III (when you deal with matricies of operators), but frankly, it’s so simple that having the Calc III background probably won’t help much. You’ll probably get different opinions on the order from other people, but that’s my $0.02</p>
<p>I would agree, if I wasn’t the resident math major :)</p>
<p>I took Honors Multivariable Calculus my first semester, and then Honors Linear Algebra and Diff Eq simultaneously. I don’t think the order mattered much, although having knowledge of partial derivatives meant that I could solve some equations (particularly exact equations) without having to learn anything new.</p>
<p>Honors Multivariable Calculus isn’t particularly proof-based, although the material is treated in a more rigorous manner. You also won’t cover any applications, and you WILL briefly discuss some calculus on manifolds-differential forms, differential manifolds, exterior derivatives, wedge products, and the generalized Stokes Theorem. Honors Linear Algebra will be entirely proof-based with Zucker teaching it, and you will not cover applications.</p>
<p>As for relevance to BME, tanman gives the best advice there. :)</p>
<p>Should I be concerned that applications won’t be covered? Engineering is about application after all; would I be at a “disadvantage” to take the honors variants then?</p>
<p>You’d have to ask tanman whether or not it will hurt you, but the applications aren’t directly related to, say BME or Electrical Engineering. In AP Calculus, you probably learned the mean value theorem for integrals. In calc 3, you do a multivariable version of that theorem, or maybe calculating the moment of inertia of some shape. Again, I’m guessing since I took the honors version. For calc 3, I don’t think there is much of a difference, maybe unless you really want to learn about differential forms.</p>
<p>For linear algebra, the honors variant is much more theoretical and you will see few, if any applications, especially with Zucker teaching. So here you might want to take the normal one, although I know many engineers who took the honors one, including BME’s.</p>