What math courses should I start with?

<p>is it feasible to start with 18.01 if you wanna major in math? i don't feel like i have a very solid grounding with calc, so i think it might be my advantage to start over :/.</p>

<p>It depends on how solid you want your calculus background to be. If you were able to get 4/5 on the AP Calc BC exam and you want to move on, then it's probably better to go on to 18.02. But if you really want a great background in calc as a math major, I'd recommend taking 18.014 + 18.024. This is probably equivalent to the Ma1 series at Caltech. They do use the Apostol series which is similar to Spivak's Calculus. Personally, I wish I had used Spivak/Apostol when I was learning calculus. But I've heard from my high school math teachers that most AP Calc BC students wouldn't be able to handle Spivak...</p>

<p>Outlier, isn't it kinda hard (due to credit limit) to take all 3 of those coruses the first term?</p>

<p>I'm personally planning on just 18.701 first term (also taking 8.05, 5.13 and HASS-D, so I only have room for one math course), and then 18.702 and 18.100B second term.</p>

<p>Then, fall of soph year, I'll do 18.101 and 18.901.</p>

<p>Things to note: 18.101 seems to only be offered in the fall, so 18.100B in the spring seems like a good idea.</p>

<p>18.100B is a prereq to 18.901, so I guess I should take 18.901 at the same time as 18.101, namely fall of sophomore year. Also, fall seems good, since Munkres teaches it then (I've been told this by a current MIT student).</p>

<p>Yes, I realize that 18.701 also has 18.100B as a "prereq," but I've already taken algebra at a local state college, so starting with it seems to make sense (I'm not trying to get transfer credit for 18.701, although it's maybe possible).</p>

<p>Considering that 18.701 and 18.100B are completely different subjects, the prereq doesn't mean much. Basically, the prereq for 18.701 is familiarity and comfortableness with proofs.</p>