Post by Admin on Mar 9, 2017 16:54:19 GMT
Calculus, multivariable calculus and linear algebra are math courses that you must take to study physics. I assume that your college lists these subjects as required if you are majoring in physics.
Also, if your college offers one-semester or two-semesters course such as "mathematical physics" it will be useful as you can easily guess from its title. You may also want to read my answer to the question "Should I study mathematical physics textbook such as Arfken?" available in the following url:
physicsandmath.freeforums.net/thread/2/study-mathematical-physics-textbook-arfken
"Complex analysis" and "differential equation" can be useful, even though their gist needed in actual physics can be learned very quickly if one doesn't approach them in the manner in which mathematics is taught in such courses designed for math majors. Personally, I took complex analysis but I never took differential equation.
"Real analysis" is one of the core subjects if you are math major, but it is not useful for physics. I learned it though when I took "Honors multivariable calculus and linear algebra."
"Probability and Statistics" is useless, even though you may mistakenly think that it is useful for statistical mechanics.
"Differential geometry" at undergraduate level is useless, even if Einstein's theory of general relativity heavily uses differential geometry. The subject matter covered in the undergraduate differential geometry course is very different from the one needed in Einstein's theory of general relativity.
"Abstract algebra 1" and "Abstract algebra 2" are core subjects if you are a math major. However, "abstract algebra 2" covers Galois theory, which is a very beautiful theory, but it finds no application in physics at present. A string theorist recommended me to take "Abstract algebra 1" though but it didn't fit into my schedule.
"Discrete mathematics" and "Number theory" find no application in physics at present.
"Topology" is one of the core subjects if you are a math major, but if you take it, you will need to learn a lot of its formalisms as is the case in which mathematics is taught in such courses designed for math majors. Nevertheless, "algebraic topology" or "differential topology" can be useful if you study string theory. However, they are graduate level courses.
"Algebraic geometry" can be useful for string theorists.
Also, if your college offers one-semester or two-semesters course such as "mathematical physics" it will be useful as you can easily guess from its title. You may also want to read my answer to the question "Should I study mathematical physics textbook such as Arfken?" available in the following url:
physicsandmath.freeforums.net/thread/2/study-mathematical-physics-textbook-arfken
"Complex analysis" and "differential equation" can be useful, even though their gist needed in actual physics can be learned very quickly if one doesn't approach them in the manner in which mathematics is taught in such courses designed for math majors. Personally, I took complex analysis but I never took differential equation.
"Real analysis" is one of the core subjects if you are math major, but it is not useful for physics. I learned it though when I took "Honors multivariable calculus and linear algebra."
"Probability and Statistics" is useless, even though you may mistakenly think that it is useful for statistical mechanics.
"Differential geometry" at undergraduate level is useless, even if Einstein's theory of general relativity heavily uses differential geometry. The subject matter covered in the undergraduate differential geometry course is very different from the one needed in Einstein's theory of general relativity.
"Abstract algebra 1" and "Abstract algebra 2" are core subjects if you are a math major. However, "abstract algebra 2" covers Galois theory, which is a very beautiful theory, but it finds no application in physics at present. A string theorist recommended me to take "Abstract algebra 1" though but it didn't fit into my schedule.
"Discrete mathematics" and "Number theory" find no application in physics at present.
"Topology" is one of the core subjects if you are a math major, but if you take it, you will need to learn a lot of its formalisms as is the case in which mathematics is taught in such courses designed for math majors. Nevertheless, "algebraic topology" or "differential topology" can be useful if you study string theory. However, they are graduate level courses.
"Algebraic geometry" can be useful for string theorists.