Ive recently completed an accelerated Calculus BC course (self study) and passed the MIT Open Courseware online final for single variable. At this point, should i move onto multivariable calculus or onto linear algebra or onto differential equations? My concern isn’t that anyone of these is harder than the rest but rather if one is a prerequisite. In what sequence should I learn these three courses? Preferably no comments about how I shouldn’t self study these courses.
I believe Diff Eq and Calc 3 / Multivariable are interchangeable in terms of sequence, but I’ve heard Diff Eq may be easier to understand if you take Calc 3 first?
Stanford, to pick just one example I found on the web, allows you to take either linear algebra or multivariate calc after single variable calc, and requires both before diff eq’s.
At MIT, which is more relevant here, the normal sequence seems to be multivariable calc (18.02) first and then either diff eq’s (18.03) or linear algebra (18.06). That’s what I gather from this example first-year schedule:
http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/advisors/academics/typical.html
Although I’ve seen people recommend linear algebra first, a good conservative plan might be: multivariable calc, then linear algebra, then differential equations - especially if you are using MIT OpenCourseware.
Good luck!
They can be taken in any order. For example, I took multivariable calculus after taking linear algebra and differential equations together. (I think the most “logical” order is linear algebra, multivariable calculus, differential equations. This is because multivariable calculus uses linear algebra, and differential equations uses linear algebra and multivariable calculus. However, you can take these classes in any order because you can learn what you need as you go.)
I agree with everyone; they are interchangeable. Although not always taught in this sequence, I concur with @halcyonheather that LA/MVC/DE makes the most sense.