<p>Although I am interested in majoring in 9, I am also interested in majoring in 18 (MAYBE in double majoring in thoseit seems at least theoretically doable to me since around half of math majors are double majors). However, I don’t think I’ll place out of 18.01. Do I need advanced standing in math to be a math major? I realize this question seems sort of stupid, but I’m just a bit worried/curious. Thanks.</p>
<p>Nope. You’ll be fine :)</p>
<p>Math is actually the most common double major, probably because the requirements are so few. In order to get a general math degree (there are general, applied, and theoretical options), you need 18.01, 18.02, 18.03, 18.06 (or 18.700), plus 8 math classes of your choosing. 
Not too bad, huh?</p>
<p>I would probably recommend taking 18.01A/18.02A, though, if you have some experience with single-variable calculus but not enough to pass out of the course. In case you don’t know, 18.01A/18.02A goes through both 18.01 and 18.02 in the fall semester, finishing up during IAP. If you’re not comfortable doing that, though, that’s fine too. You don’t need to.</p>
<p>That’s actually what I was thinking of doing. Does it matter at all that I didn’t take any form of AP Calculus in high school, though?</p>
<p>It’s totally fine. Once you get past the GIRs, everyone is on equal footing with respect to major.</p>
<p>gonzaemi, if you were asking whether not taking ap calc in high school matters with respect to 18.01A/18.02A— the answer is that yes, it does matter. 18.01/02A moves quite fast. friends of mine who had a weak or nonexistent calc background quickly found themselves very overwhelmed.</p>
<p>from what i know of the classes, unless you studied calc on your own outside of school, you may be better off taking the normal 18.01/18.02 route. it will not put you at a disadvantage in any respect, and (especially if you decide to do something other than 9) i think you will not regret having done them properly. you can hurry through them if you want, but there’s no /need/ to rush.</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>OK I’m going to take 18.01. Could anyone recommend a calculator for this class? I’m thinking of a TI89 because that’s what I used in high school, but it is kind of expensive and it might not be the right one for the course…I will appreciate any advice. Thank you.</p>
<p>Most math classes don’t actually use calculators. I can’t speak for 18.01 specifically (I started in 18.02) but I have only used calculators at MIT for 5.112 exams, and for that a 4-function calculator would do.</p>
<p>18.01A isn’t really accelerated 18.01 - it jumps to the end of 18.01, the parts you don’t learn in AP Calc AB. So yes, you want experience :)</p>
<p>I use my calculator for other day-to-day-ish stuff. For class, not so much. The questions are more theoretical than numerical.</p>