<p>The school I plan on transferring to is CSUS and it doesn't require Linear Algebra for all engineering majors. I was wondering if I should still take it because from what I see, all the UC's and several CSU's require it, but not Sac State. Is it because of the FE exam? I know some of you may say its beneficial to know the stuff, but do you really need it? If I do take it, it would be during this upcoming summer. I'll also be taking an English writing class. What do you guys think? Nay? Yay? lol.</p>
<p>I’d take it. Some mathematicians argue that Linear Algebra has become even more important than calculus especially now that we have the computer. It has a lot of practical applications. </p>
<p>My friend goes to a school that didn’t require it, so in his upper level engineering classes the professors had to teach the math so they could do certain things. You’ll probably have a leg up in that respect.</p>
<p>Pass on it. If parts are needed down the road just pick it up as you go, it’s not a big deal.</p>
<p>Linear algebra is pretty important in the sciences and engineering. Take it. Engineering classes become a lot easier when you are not stumbling over the math.</p>
<p>It’s a good math class to take… not as important as DiffEq, but more useful than calculus.</p>
<p>Linear Algebra is perhaps the most powerful applied math class that there is. DiffEq is important too, but Linear Algebra os so fundamentally important in understanding a lot of things.</p>
<p>Definitely take it. My biggest regret going into graduate school is that I do not have as deep an understanding of linear algebra as I should. It’s extremely important in many areas of engineering.</p>
<p>Good to know… my engineering school (Tufts) only requires Calc 1-3 and DiffEq for Math, but I’m signed up for Linear Algebra for next semester already anyways.</p>
<p>what exactly in linear algebra is important for engineering classes? i hear that LA is composed of a lot of proofs. im assuming you guys are talking about techniques you learn in dealing with matrices? how have you used LA in your engineering coursework? im enrolled in the class right now and the class is already starting the wait list, i’m still debating though. the fact that im taking it in the summer makes me wonder if i will fully grasp the subject as opposed to a full semester. in my situation, im unable to take it during the fall because of time conflicts. and i will be transferring out after this fall. so summer is my only chance (i dont want to take it at the 4 year). its a six week course, 2 and 1/2 hours a day MTWTh.</p>
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<p>Sometimes it is. It depends on how the class is taught.</p>
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<p>ok, then it probably isn’t going to be a very proof-heavy course.</p>
<p>Either way, it’ll be a very good class to take. Linear algebra is a pretty useful subject.</p>
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The vector operations, changing basis in multiple dimensions and numerical methods are almost all heavily related with linear algebra.</p>
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<p>That’s bizarre. I use linear algebra frequently in EE, and in order to understand any computer simulation program you need to know linear algebra.</p>
<p>gthopeful what topics in linear algebra…curious</p>
<p>It depends on the school, but it’s possible to know nothing of even basic matrix operations (multiplication, transpose, etc) by only taking calculus and differential equations. Topics that you’re likely to see in engineering include linear transforms, invertibility, orthogonality, and bases.</p>
<p>Some of these are not specifically linear algebra topics but you’re unlikely to see them if you haven’t at least taken linear algebra.</p>
<p>jeez i hope i never run into that stuff again though</p>
<p>i could see how linear transforms could pose some very clever use.</p>
<p>but orthogonality …hmm i do remember some very useful statistics applications of orthogonal vectors but they are were very specific …most likely only useful for analyzing data.</p>
<p>well anyway as you can likely tell, i had a bad experience with linear algebra… X.X</p>
<p>Our differential equations curriculum does spend about 1/3 of the semester on solving systems of D.E.'s, with some focus specifically on stuff like simplifying matrices. I’ve also heard that, here at least, there is some overlap between linear algebra and differential equations. I guess the other topics are covered in the specific engineering classes that they’re used in?</p>
<p>i just finished differential equations and calc3 this semester…took the finals yesterday and aced them. de was interesting, i liked it more than calc. the last 2 weeks in de we solved using matrices. i guess i will take linear algebra because when we were using matrices, i had no clue what was going on at first…even with the basics of matrices. i dont want to head into engineering courses without knowledge of matrices. thanks a lot guys for the advice, i really appreciated it!</p>
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<p>Well it goes quite a bit beyond that. For example, orthogonality explains why Fourier series are useful: since each basis component is orthogonal to all the others, this means that each Fourier component contains unique information about the waveform it’s reconstructing, and so in general it is a compact way to represent something periodic about which we know nothing. This is a simplification though.</p>
<p>(Of course I’m giving it the EE spin because I studied EE)</p>