mochamaven

I would really really urge against taking this class...most people in my school (including me) who have taken it have not been too thrilled.

iostream

yeah, the reasons why epgy blows have been enumerated several times. if you go the self-study route (which i recommend you do if you don't have access to a quality university math program that isn't going to be silly about prerequisites), i like this book: http://www.amazon.com/Vector-Calculu...7728690&sr=8-1

hubbard's treatment of linear algebra is nice, but for a more formal treatment, axler's pretty much the bomb: http://www.amazon.com/Linear-Algebra...7728860&sr=1-1

and after you're done with those:
http://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Manif...133948-8724120

also, don't limit yourself to analysis. you may find other regions of mathematics more rewarding.

ChaosTheory

I'm going to bump this up.

I need to take all of my math classes online and my school will provide credit for them. Obviously, MVC from EPGY isn't regarded very highly, but how about CTY's MVC? How about EPGY's Linear Algebra vs. CTY's Linear Algebra? Most of my knowledge will come from self-studying, so I'm looking for the more decent of the two. After that, what are your impressions on EPGY's Diff. EQ, Partial Diff. EQ, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, and Point-Set Topology? Are they decent? I don't expect to actually learn much from them [after my experience with CTY's BC Calculus ], but I get credit for it from my school.

Right now, here are some of the books I have:

Apostol's Calculus Volume I and II
Rudin's Real and Complex Analysis
Shilov's Real and Complex Analysis
Shilov's Linear Algebra [I'm steering away from it at the moment because I'm not very fond of determinants ]
Axler's Linear Algebra [leaning more towards this one at the moment; an interesting approach]
Apostol's Mathematical Analysis
Topology by Hocking and Young
Topology by Munkres
Introduction to Topology and Modern Analysis by Simmons
Linear Algebra by Hoffman and Kunze
Abstract Algebra by Deskins
Ordinary Differential Equations by Arnold
Ordinary Differential Equations by Hartman
Elements of Linear and Abstract Algebra by Connell
Linear Algebra by Beezer
Advanced Modern Algebra by Rotman
Applied Linear Algebra and Matrix Analysis by Shores

As you can see, I have a fairly good library to draw from, so I will be mostly be self-studying. Right now, I think CTY might be better for MVC and Linear Algebra. Are there any other places I can take MVC and Linear Algebra online? How about the courses beyond?

iostream

axler linear algebra is the bomb. for serious, i love that book. probably should supplement it with a more normal linalg book just so you know gram-schmidt and other numerical methods if you plan to test out of it anywhere.

ChaosTheory

Yes, Axler's writing style is very clear. Shilov's, however, is more dense. I presume it's a result of the Russian translation.

Howard Anton's Linear Algebra, perhaps? It seems to be a more traditional book.

InquilineKea

CTY isn't good. It's graded pass/fail (if I can recall correctly) and does not treat the material particularly rigorously at all. Hell, it didn't assign the hardest problems from my geometry textbook.

And take a look at the textbooks it uses. Most of the textbooks are the easiest textbooks for the particular courses at hand. EPGY's courses also uses the easiest textbooks at hand - Ross is pretty much THE EASIEST Real Analysis book you can get

CTY is only good for showing accreditation. But the fact is - the only decent courses that you can get without accreditation are the ones taught in the HONORS tracks of high-level universities.

==

And on linear algebra - it really depends on your style. (do you like clear explanations? Clear problems?). Do you want full elaboration? (even on the parts that less intelligent students are likely to miss?) You could even try one textbook for explanations and one for problems.

==
Also, care to give me the link of where you got the textbooks from? I don't have a lot of the ones you have.

ChaosTheory

I think that in general, the rigor of online courses is highly dependent on your instructor. In my BC class, all of the quizzes were online and the tests were posted beforehand.

In any case, I'll probably have to go with CTY's MVC, due to the price tag on Stanford's. Both seem to be fairly similar instructional-wise, so I might just go with the cheaper one [CTY] for Linear Algebra. I won't be able to attend a college to take these classes due to transportation issues.

At the moment, I'm complementing Axler with Shilov; the former rarely uses determinants, while Shilov starts off with determinants and uses them throughout the book. I like Axler for now.

I'll PM you the links.

InquilineKea

Think of it in terms of the market system.

People want diplomas. People hear about the system through other sources. People are risk-averse.

They do not want to take a course that they have a substantial chance of failing in.

Also, since there will be people all over the 99th percentile taking it, there will be a WIDE spectrum of abilities (those are the people who hear of CTY and EPGY - both will get a lot of those students). People in the 99th percentile include people who would fail a theoretical mathematics course (hell most Ivy League students in the non-theoretical math courses are probably at the 99th percentile) and people who actually would get something out of a theoretical math course and IMO medalists.

Hell - most of the students taking those courses just want a transcript boost. I know lots of people who took calculus in 10th grade (and of course they got A's LOLZ) who couldn't even qualify for the AIME (and who really aren't that smart - though some people do fail to qualify due to lack of practice)

The instruction you get online really won't make much of a difference. Hell, CTY courses don't even have instruction.

Holy **** - a linear algebra book that starts out with determinants?

ChaosTheory

Yep, determinants start on page 5.

It looks like I'll just go with the cheapest options and primarily self-study the subjects. I'm assuming the higher math classes at EPGY are similar to the rest, unless anyone has had any experience and is willing to share.

Earthquake

Linear algebra is useless like multivariable calculus. I did not take either of them and I went straight into Differential equations. This other girl, who is a graduated senior did the exact same thing. My school had taught us a great background in calculus, thus it was easy. I took a placement test for differential equations and I passed. I know linear algebra and multivariable calculus without ever formally learning them in school.

You should not think about price. It is pertinent that you think about choosing EPGY because the multivariable calculus for CTY was recently introduced. Howvever, EPGY has had multivariable calculus for many years; experience outweighs money.