What math tools are especially important for physics majors?

[elad katzir]

hi all! I'm a first-year second-semester physics major, problem is I'm very weak at math, often not getting questions right just because I get stuck with the mathematics part. this affects me in both mechanics and electricity
what are the most important math subject and tools needed for physics majors? where can I learn them from?
thanks ahead to everyone who answers!

 

[Orodruin]

The math tools really should be part of your early university studies, even if you are a physics major the relevant math should be taught in any physics program so typically you would learn them from your program.

In terms of the math subjects most relevant to physics, it depends on the physics subject but typically linear algebra and single- and multivariable calculus are absolutely fundamental. After that, there are many many others that are relevant as well, just some examples:

• Vector and tensor analysis
• Complex analysis
• Ordinary and partial differential equations
• Series and transforms

 

[berkeman]

hi all! I'm a first-year second-semester physics major, problem is I'm very weak at math, often not getting questions right just because I get stuck with the mathematics part. this affects me in both mechanics and electricity
what are the most important math subject and tools needed for physics majors? where can I learn them from?
thanks ahead to everyone who answers!

As Orodruin says, your math classes should be tied well to your physics classes in university. Can you list all of your classes from your first semester studies? What classes are you taking now in your 2nd semester?

Is the issue that your math preparation in high school (or whatever it is called in your country) didn't seem to be adequate for university?

 

[vela]

At the point you're currently at, you should know:

• algebra and trigonometry
• how to differentiate
• how to do basic integrals
• how to solve simple first-order differential equations

Knowing how to solve the differential equation ##y''+\omega^2 y=0## can help, but it's not strictly necessary yet. Familiarity with some concepts from Calc 3 is also helpful, but again, you'll learn enough in your physics classes along the way to get by.

The most important is being able to do algebra and trig efficiently and correctly. If you're still making dumb mistakes like ##\frac{3x+4}{3} = x+4## or ##\sqrt{a^2+b^2}=a+b##, that's a big problem. If you still rely on SOHCAHTOA to remind yourself what sine and cosine are, that's not acceptable.

 

[elad katzir]

As Orodruin says, your math classes should be tied well to your physics classes in university. Can you list all of your classes from your first semester studies? What classes are you taking now in your 2nd semester?

Is the issue that your math preparation in high school (or whatever it is called in your country) didn't seem to be adequate for university?

I'm taking currently mechanics, calc 2 and electricity and magnetism
previous semester I had calc 1 (but I barely managed to pass it, got the exact grade need to pass after there was a factor), and modern physics.
its highly possible that the math preparation in high school also wasn't good enough for university level

 

[elad katzir]

At the point you're currently at, you should know:

• algebra and trigonometry
• how to differentiate
• how to do basic integrals
• how to solve simple first-order differential equations

Knowing how to solve the differential equation ##y''+\omega^2 y=0## can help, but it's not strictly necessary yet. Familiarity with some concepts from Calc 3 is also helpful, but again, you'll learn enough in your physics classes along the way to get by.

The most important is being able to do algebra and trig efficiently and correctly. If you're still making dumb mistakes like ##\frac{3x+4}{3} = x+4## or ##\sqrt{a^2+b^2}=a+b##, that's a big problem. If you still rely on SOHCAHTOA to remind yourself what sine and cosine are, that's not acceptable.

I know basic integrals up until the D.I method for integration by part but not how to solve any differential equations, except one. and I know differentiate but not by the hearth, often making dumb mistakes like forgetting an ln when differentiating 4ln^2(x+1)

 

[symbolipoint]

I'm taking currently mechanics, calc 2 and electricity and magnetism
previous semester I had calc 1 (but I barely managed to pass it, got the exact grade need to pass after there was a factor), and modern physics.

That makes no sense. You are going through the courses wrong.

 

[gwnorth]

previous semester I had calc 1 (but I barely managed to pass it, got the exact grade need to pass after there was a factor)

This no doubt is where in lies your problem.