<p>I'm stuck between taking an advanced linear algebra class and a Calculus 2 or 3 class, I'm a sophomore CS student, which class makes more sense for me to take at this point? Calculus 2 (or maybe 3) or Algebra? and do you think a class in statistics is more important than a calc class for a CSist?</p>
<p>Linear Algebra is the easiest math class in the Eng curriculum.</p>
<p>Calc II is the most Cal a CS student will ever need. It would be nice because they do sequences and series, which you can use in CS for approximating functions and stuff.</p>
<p>Linear algebra is pretty easy... bordering on useless, really. I mean, that's a bit harsh... but you probably already know everything they'll teach you, they're just going to word it differently.</p>
<p>Linear algebra is very necessary for graphics and understanding how graphics libraries work (from what I understand). You probably don't need advanced and just plain lin alg will suffice for that though. </p>
<p>Lin Alg is often pretty easy but it depends on the class and university. It's not just matrices and inverting them, there is a lot to lin alg. I don't know why quicksilver thinks its easy.</p>
<p>Linear Algebra, very useful to know for any technical degree.</p>
<p>Diff Eq > Linear Algebra :)</p>
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Diff Eq > Linear Algebra
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<p>Umm... to do almost anything in differential equations you need linear algebra. And since when does CS major use differential equations all the time? </p>
<p>Algebra is important in CS.</p>
<p>In my opinion, it depends on what you want to do. For example, if you're going to be writing simulation programs for physical problems, then the calculus background might be more helpful, otherwise, for computational graphics, algebra might be better.</p>
<p>DiffEq is useful for simulations and game programming (many games have physics engines, and mechanics uses DiffEq). Linear algebra is useful for graphics, and for machine learning. So I would say that both can be useful but linear algebra is more likely to be.</p>
<p>I think calc is just basic math that any scientist or engineer ought to know, but prob/statistics is crucial for AI/machine learning and any sort of experimental design or data analysis, and highly useful for anything in communications or image processing.</p>
<p>A lot of CS programs require LinAlg. Agree with Jessiehl about DiffEq, too. I know of a lot of CS majors who are double majoring in math -- there is a fair bit of crossover, depending on what your particular interest in CS is.</p>
<p>I would do Calc II first, than do linear algebra, than finish Calc III. Calc III required some linear algebra knowledge, (determinanats, subspaces etc) and it would be a good idea to get a good foundation in those topics to better understand Calc III. Despite what QuikSilver said, linear algebra is NOT useless. It has a vast array of application especially to CS. For example fingerprint analysis and digital imaging both use principles of linear algebra.</p>