<p>So lately i've been dropping into linear/differential to listen in on lectures and take the test whenever he gives them and i found the class to be extremely easy compared to discrete math. I'm currently enrolled in calc2 and discrete math.</p>
<p>How hard is linear algebra? I’m taking it this summer.</p>
<p>i thought it was pretty straight foward.</p>
<p>if you found discrete to be hard, wait until upper division algorithm analysis ;)</p>
<p>btw, first course you (and possibly I too) will take at SC this fall is CMPS 101, a proof-based upper division course, taught by Tantalo, a very, very math-demanding professor. lol.</p>
<p>I dunno. Is it proof-based? My course was heavily proof-based for a sophomore course in Linear Algebra. Differential Equations felt like a physics class.</p>
<p>the linear algebra/diff eq class i’m attending is just pure application straight foward. my discrete math is all proof. Drives me insane on test when we have to learn 30 proofs or memorize which ever works better xD.</p>
<p>I haven’t taken discrete maths yet, but I kind of want to out of interest. </p>
<p>@theresistance: My perspective is that it depends on who is teaching it. My teacher had several boxes of red pens and went through them routinely every week combing for all minor errors and correcting our proofs. Thankfully, I was pretty good at proofs and that was generally what our tests and homework consisted of. She was the kind of person who made your life a living hell. The people who did really well were the smart ones who only took that class that semester. Modern Physics proof-based was a cakewalk compared to this class. I learned a lot and I don’t regret being pushed that hard, but it took up a lot of time in my schedule.</p>
<p>Funny thing is I have to retake Linear Algebra & Differential Equations since those classes didn’t transfer to my new school OOS. Yay, I get to relive it all over again.</p>
<p>It highly depends on your professor. Differential equations can easily be one of the harder lower division math classes you can take depending on your professor. Especially because most methods to solve these equations are not as straight forward sometimes as just doing an operation and getting the desired general solution. Linear algebra is a hit or miss. When I took it, mine was full of proofs rather than straightforward matrix operations. From what I hear, most linear algebra classes are that way, so the chances of getting a professor who will only ask to do straight forward matrix operations is fairly slim. Discrete math from my experience and the experience of other fellow students I know is generally easier than differential equations and linear algebra. Discrete math requires thinking and logic, something that most students might find troubling if they’re only used to memorizing and regurgitating. However if you are naturally a logical sort of fellow, who can think in that sort of format, discrete math isn’t too bad. Just have to change perspective of how to solve a problem.</p>
<p>But once again, it is very highly professor dependent. A discrete math class could easily be harder than a differential equations class or linear algebra one simply because the professor makes it that way. So professor research is a must if you really want to know the difficulty beforehand. However material-wise (meaning independent of the professor), most people agree that discrete math is easier than differential equations or linear algebra.</p>
<p>Definitely have to agree with what was said about these classes being professor dependent. However, both of these classes are largely logic/reasoning based, and if you happen to be good at that sort of thing, you will likely do well. If you aren’t, well, study up!</p>