<p>I'm thinking about taking Thermodynamics, general physics II (calculus based), Differential Equations, Linear Algebra and Electrical Circuits for BME for the Spring 2010? Is this crazy for an average student (not a CC student...yet)?</p>
<p>I would consider taking a different courseload. Depending on what you mean by average student… I would say that many students would prefer an alternative option. Linear and diffeq seem to fall out of the category of weed-out classes at Purdue, but thermo, circuits and E&M are all known to fall in that category.</p>
<p>One semester I took a similar load (though slightly harder)… It single handedly dropped my GPA but like 0.4 pts. I would advise strongly against such a courseload. That would be just around the edge of sanity. If you think you can handle it, then go for it, but I would say drop one (linear algebra probably since you have diff eq there) and replace it with some kind of gen ed class that you will need for graduation.</p>
<p>always take DE after LA, that’s a rule. It will make DE alot easier.</p>
<p>I would agree that DE and LA should not in general be taken together. The optimal scenario is LA then DE, but the other way around is still better than taking both at the same time.</p>
<p>It seems like you’re further along in math than in Physics. I bet you could put both math classes off, especially if you don’t plan on taking math courses above those required for graduation and you want to really lighten the load (you say you’re an average student, and the average student struggles with math).</p>
<p>I agree with AuburnMathTutor, ideally LA would come before DE since in DE you will deal with some applications introduced in LA (like matrices, cramer’s rule, etc.). But, in my opinion you should stick with both math and physics, I found that after learning differential equations physics turns into a piece of cake.</p>
<p>Wow, really guys? LA before DE? Shoot, the natural order of things at UIUC was DE and then LA. What part of DE do you think LA would have helped with? I am just curious since I did it the other way and to me there seemed to be little overlap between the two courses.</p>
<p>Well, understanding how to do most second-order linear ODEs (and higher-order linear ODEs) doesn’t necessarily require an understanding of LA, but understanding why it works the way it does <em>does</em> require that understanding.</p>
<p>For instance, why is it that when you get repeated roots for a 2nd order DE you have to multiply by a function of the dependent variable? Why can you add two solutions to a DE and get another solution? Etc.</p>
<p>Plus, for things like variation of parameters, it’s really better to have seen LA.</p>
<p>Understanding the interplay between DE theory and LA theory is fundamental in, say, Quantum Mechanics.</p>
<p>Most of the people I know actually took the classes you’ve listed together, but I believe we took Linear Algebra before Differential Equations, like most people here have said. Linear Algebra would definitely help with DE, but I don’t see much harm in taking them at the same time. Calculus is probably the only universal prerequisite for Differential Equations.</p>
<p>Right now I’m taking Physics I, P-chem I, DEq, Computer Science I, and biochemistry. I remember Linear Algebra was pretty easy and Differential Equations right now is very easy as well.</p>
<p>I don’t know about physics II and circuits. Usually physics II is a pre-req for circuits since you get your first exposure to circuits, electricity, and magnetisim in physics II.</p>
<p>I would probably drop circuits to be honest. That would probably put you at about 14 credits right? Throw in a general ed. instead of circuits if you can.</p>
<p>I don’t necessarily agree. Physics II will give you a lot of information at a lower abstraction level about electricity, but you won’t delve into the complicated circuit analysis you will in Circuits. Also, they start you from the ground up in an intro Circuits class, assuming that’s what you’re taking. I took Physics II and Circuits I at the same time, and I found it was extremely helpful, as the Physics added more insight to what I was studying in Circuits.</p>
<p>DiffEq, not to mention Physics II, might be better to have under your belt before Circuits. I always thought LA was easier than DiffEq, but after doing some checking it appears that many schools expect you to take it after DiffEq, but I never thought there was that much overlap anyway. Interesting discussion.</p>
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<p>Once you know a 'lil linear algebra you can rephrase all of the stuff you learned in your differential equations class into a linear algebra problem (solving a homogeneous linear DE with const. coefficients is just finding a basis for the null space of a linear operator on the vector space of functions from R -> C)</p>
<p>Assuming Thermo, PhysII, and Circuits all have lab elements, do you really want to have three lab classes in the same semester, regardless of taking DiffEq and Linear?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I want to take LA first but I can’t because I need Differential Equations are a Pre req for Thermodynamics. </p>
<p>So I guess I’ll just take Physics II, Diff Eq, Thermodynamics and Circuits (For circuits, on the old curriculum it says Physics II as a prereq/coreq but now, there’s new course especially for BME that says Physics II as a prereq? So I’m not sure if it’s an official change or not. I’ll have to ask :/)</p>