FinanceNut

Hi all,

I have a question regarding the mathematics level that you need for finance. I know that quants like D.E. Shaw and Finance Ph.Ds like Vikram Pandit have strong mathematical backgrounds. I also realize that anyone who works at a hedge fund should have at least a respectable level of math. However, I've hit a crossroads in my academic career. I just completed multivariable calculus last semester, a class that although I did well in it, I did not enjoy at all.

I am now trying to decide whether or not I should take linear algebra this semester or not. This class will cover things like linear transformations, determinants, eigenvectors, eigenvalues, inner products and linear spaces. The class will also review orthogonality, datafitting, diff eq (including nonlinear systems), and partial diff eq (including Fourier's Theory).

How much of this stuff would a non-quant hedge fund use? Forgetting for a minute that I did not enjoy multivariable, is this class an important one for me to take? I have no intention of going beyond this in mathematics, so if I choose to take linear algebra, this will be the last math class I take (besides statistics, of course).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!