Question

I’m a comp sci student and I need to fill out my math electives. Which would apply more to programming and computer science? Hell, which would be more useful altogether?

Elementary Calculus or Linear Algebra?

There are both second tier classes (level two) and I can only choose one.

If it boils down to a coin toss, I’ll go with which ever fits into my schedule better… But really, I’d like to know which is best…

Thanks!

Answer 1

I have spent more than a decade working in very advanced linear algebra, so you might think I would recommend linear algebra. In fact, I recommend calculus. The reason is simple: if someone hasn’t learned linear algebra, I can teach them the basics very quickly, assuming they already know calculus. If they haven’t mastered calculus, they wouldn’t be as competitive for a job and they wouldn’t know enough to begin a lot of different optimization methods, which can be applicable to many types of functions, not just those that arise in typical linear algebra manipulations. Teaching the methods of calculus simply takes a lot more time and effort than that for linear algebra, at least at the level of a basic education.