linear algebra before multivariable calculus?

<p>im currently a student at a community college and im currently taking PHYSICS 4A mechanics and MATH 3B integration. my best friend who is a little ahead of me is taking DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA at the same time next semester and i want take some classes with him. </p>

<p>i know that people normally go to multivariable calculus right after the integrals course but would it hurt me if i take either DIFF. EQ or LINEAR ALG. first before MULT. CALC. i am also taking PHYSICS 4B electricity and magnetism next semester and i dont want to find myself lost with 3-D CALC and MULT. CALC in the E&M material as for then my highest experience would be CALCULUS II. leave some advice weather to respect the curricula order or be free to take DIF. EQ. OR LINEAR ALG. before MULT. CALC</p>

<p>Ack.... please do not capitalize your course names - it makes your post extremely difficult to read. </p>

<p>First of all, you should understand how math sequencing works.
Following courses should be taken in order, as the ones before are pre-reqs of the ones afterwards:
Calc I -> Calc II -> multi-variable -> Differntial equations</p>

<p>You need diff eq for certain physics classes - quantum mechanics being one of them. I do not know if you need them for E&M; check with the course book or the professor who teaches it.</p>

<p>You can take linear algebra pretty much anytime. The danger of splitting up, say, calc II and multi-variable, with linear alg. in the middle, is that you will forget the calc II material when it comes time for multi-variable.</p>

<p>I don't see a problem with taking Lin Alg or Diff Eq before Multi Var Calc. From my experience, there isn't really anything in Multi Var Calc you need to know to be successful in Lin Alg or Diff Eq.</p>

<p>thanks for the feedback everyone. yeah.. i think i will take linear algebra this next semester along physics 4b(E&M) and take calc III next year. thanks again</p>