kd426

anyone take it as a freshman, and should I? Or will I end up killing myself

kd426

and to add on, i'm in CIT hoping to do ECE. which of the following, concepts to math, differential equations, or calculus in 3 dimensions, is the best to take.

bruno123

Concepts of mathematics is a gentle introduction to number & set theory, discrete mathematics, and rigorous proof techniques. It is very useful in future CS or Comp Eng classes and is required for all ECE majors. Calculus in 3D is actually CMU's version of multivariable calculus and is helpful in applied electromagnetics classes like 18-300 for example. Differential equations on the other hand will help you a lot in circuits and signals & systems classes.

Personally, I would take all three of the above starting with Concepts, which has no prerequisites. It might be useful though to take 21-122 (Integration, Differential Equations and Approximation) before taking 21-259 (Calculus in 3D) or 21-260 (Differential Equations), unless you have enough AP credit to skip it and/or are comfortable with single variable calculus and elementary differential equations.

If you have AP credit and are more interested in the theory of calculus, another option would be to take 21-131 (Analysis I) as a freshman.

RacinReaver

I did Calc 3D freshman year and thought the only thing that made it difficult was the abysmal professor I had (Schimmerling).

wildwildwes

I would take it now---Flaherty is a good reason to wake up in the morning; it isn't too rigorous, and you'll get some good experience at a CMU math class. Note that 21-127 is indeed required for ECEs and that you can take 21-259 or 21-260 (you do not need to take both). Also realize that you'll have a Mathematical Foundations of ECE as well that covers differential equations (and a host of other maladies).

bruno123

Wildwildwes is right when he says Mathematical Foundations of ECE also covers ordinary differential equations plus Fourier series & transforms and linear algebra (the class will be taught next fall by my former PhD advisor, Jose Moura). Signals & Systems on the other hand covers Laplace transforms among other things (or at least used to cover it back when I was a TA for that class).

Looking from that perspective, it might be really redundant to take 21-260. Calculus in 3D on the other hand is not covered anywhere else in the ECE curriculum, except for an introduction to vector calculus in 18-300, and you should definitely take it at some point.

Just as a side comment, it is shocking that Calculus in 3D is not a compulsory course for ECE, considering that it is required for all other engineering majors at CMU and is extremely important for electrical engineers. There is the possibility of taking it as math/science elective though (at least two are required to graduate).

RacinReaver

All of my ECE friends took Calc3D and DiffEq with my freshman year, but I don't know how widespread the attitude is.

bco09

3d calc is not required for CS either. I'm already way ahead of the game with my AP credits though, so i don't think it should be too much of an issue to take it just for the heck of it. And i guess it could be useful if I want to do computer graphics (which supposedly has 3d calc as a prereq)

RacinReaver

Oh, if you want, you could always switch to taking the course Pass/Fail if you find the professor to be terrible, but you still want credit for passing the class.

AtoChansu

Hmmm Flaherty. I had him. SO easy... He's so interested in Calculus and almost kinda gets sad when people don't care about it or don't pay attention.

If you're ECE, it's probably good to take Concepts first, cuz the professor's better in the Fall (Mackey).

bco09

eh, i'm taking concepts and 3d. is it gonna be math overload?

AtoChansu

it's def good to take concepts in the fall so you can take 251 (great theoretical ideas) in the spring

calc 3d shouldn't be in the way. it's pretty easy