<p>I’m a rising second year chem major, and for the major requirement, you have to take the two quarter math for physical science majors class. As an alternative, you can take 4 quarters of analysis (199 + sequence). I am wondering if this is something I should do, given that I like math, but don’t plan on double majoring. I am not amazing at math, but fairly competent, and I want a challenge. I got an A in 153 without much difficulty, and have gotten As in Honors Gen Chem this year. I am taking Honors Organic, Classics, and Bio BB, next quarter. I want to be challenged, because I feel like this year I didn’t have enough work, which led to me being kind of bored and losing interest in things, and I am genuinely interested in taking analysis. I am wondering if it is worth it to take 4 quarters where I could take 2. Would love advice from those who have taken analysis sequence or the phy sci math sequence. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m also a rising second-year, and a math major. I’ve taken the first two quarters of analysis, and, unless you have a passion for pure math, you’ll be learning a lot of things that will not be useful to you as a chem major (and overlooking some things that are, including differential equations, Fourier analysis, and applied linear algebra). Also, if you’re looking for a challenge, you will not find it in regular analysis—the off-quarter sequence (starting in the winter) is not as hard as the regular or accelerated sequences that begin in the fall. </p>
<p>Honestly, I would take 200-201-202. 202 is the third quarter of the math for physical sciences sequence—it’s not publicized in the course catalog, but I had a friend who took it this year. It basically expounds on the topics addressed in 200-201 in greater depth, and would probably represent more of the challenge you’re looking for. Check out the description from the 2000-2001 course catalog: [url=<a href=“http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/archives/catalog00-01/htm/mathematics.shtml]Mathematics[/url”>Mathematics]Mathematics[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Skimming the course catalog, I estimate that you would have to take 199 (intro. to analysis), 203-205 (analysis), 270 (complex variables), 273 (ODEs), possibly 275 (PDEs, although this might be overkill), and 211 (numerical analysis) in the math department along with STAT 243 (numerical linear algebra) in order to comprehensively address everything found in the 200-201-202 sequence. Obviously, this would entail taking a lot more math than you’re looking for and might even constitute a minor.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice! Taking all three quarters seems like the smart thing to do. I’m sure it will be challenging enough.</p>