Should I take math 53?

<p>I'm a sophomore majoring in L&S CS and so I don't have to take math 53 but my friends suggested that I take it before I take math 54 because I won't know certain things ie. partial derivatives. What do you guys think? Should I spend a semester taking a math class I do not need or should I just take math 54?
I'm also taking CS 61A and EE42 this semester along with some breadth course.</p>

<p>From what i know, 54 has nothing to do with 53. The numbering system makes it seem like you have to take 53 first, buy you don’t. All my friends and advisors have told me it’s totally fine to take 54 first.
Also, 53 is notoriously difficult, so unless you have an incredible passion for multivariable calculus (or it’s required for your major), I don’t suggest you take it.</p>

<p>Most friends of mine in engineering had more trouble with 54 than 53. No, 53 doesn’t really help with 54, except in terms of maturity.</p>

<p>How is H54 compared to 54?</p>

<p>It could be easier than 54 or harder, depending on the professor. I find in the math dept, while the honors classes are meant to be harder, it really depends on the professor.</p>

<p>In physics, I think the H series is almost always harder.</p>

<p>Does H54 cover material more in depth than 54, regardless of difficulty?</p>

<p>If I decide to take 54 instead of 53, my choices are between Dan-Virgil Voiculescu for 54 and “Staff” for H54. Does anyone know anything about Voiculescu?</p>

<p>Also, do 54 and H54 follow the 10% rule?</p>

<p>Thanks guys. I decided to switch to math 54 but now the class is full for one professor. The other professor, Voiculescue has terrible reviews so I don’t know if I should sign up for his class or not. His lecture is only half-filled so far so obviously people think Holtz is the better teacher. Anyway, I tried signing up but I cannot enroll into a section because all of them are full. I’m confused because each section can have a waitlist of up to 10 people but I can’t sign up for one with only 3 students in the waitlist for some reason.
?!?!?! What do I do?!</p>

<p>@Jamie, depth depends even more on professor.</p>