Math 1B vs Jumping to Math 54

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>So I'm a Spring admit and I made it into the FPF program so I'm pretty much a fall admit I guess, I'll just take breadth courses in the fall :D</p>

<p>My question is about mathematics, as I am an intended Computer Science major (L&S). I expect a 5 on the AP BC Calculus exam and I am a very strong math student, I've never had any trouble in the class at all and I understand all of the concepts well. Is it advisable to jump right into Differential Equations and Linear Algebra from the get go (Spring semester, Math 54)? Many people say that I really should take college level calculus to begin with, but I looked over the course description of Math 1B and I recognized all of the concepts listed. Any ways, there may be other aspects to the argument I am missing, so list them if so. </p>

<p>Opinions? I just don't know if I should take Math 1B at FPF, or fill that slot with something to fill my breadth requirement...</p>

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<p>I am in a very similar situation as you. I am in FPF (not positive if I am going to enroll at Cal though) and am very strong in math and expect a 5 on BC. I was planning on taking 1B for a couple reasons. One: No reason not to, because it is the highest math FPF offers. Two: I feel like it might be a good way to get an A without too much studying (not sure though, because it might be much, much harder than AP tests). Three: Gets you’re mind back into math and refreshes your memory for harder classes like Diff eq and linear.</p>

<p>Just my thoughts, because I plan on taking 1B if I end up attending Berkeley.</p>

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<p>hey guys, there is multivariable calculus between Calc BC and differential equations so you can’t take math 54 right away</p>

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<p>I’m also a spring admit and a strong math person blah blah. I really don’t feel the need to take a math class at FPF. I’m planning on just taking English and three breadth courses, although doing so will kill me because my focus is on math & science and I’m not taking any of that. I want to save those for Spring where classes will be better. Applied Mathematics major taking English, English 31AC, History 7B, Political Science for his first semester sounds really nice, doesnt it.</p>

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<p>Math 1A-1B are definitely not needed for 54, as long as you remember integration by parts, trigonometric integrals, u-substitution, etc. </p>

<p>I see no problem with jumping straight into 54 in Spring 2012. </p>

<p>@mjmay7, you don’t need math 53 if you’re a CS major, which is what the OP is.</p>

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<p>[url=<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html]Source[/url”>http://math.berkeley.edu/courses_AP.html]Source[/url</a>]</p>

<p>You could probably learn all that material in a few days if you are motivated enough.</p>

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<p>You should definitely just jump to Math 54 if you can. Math 1B is arguably the hardest undergrad math course at Cal. If you can skip it, why take it? Like a user mentioned, Math 54 is totally unrelated to whatever math you’ll or have already learned.</p>