Physics Math Question!

[PreVet_ISU]

So here's the situation. My University offers Physics 1 & 2 with a prerequisite of Trigonometry. I have not taken Trig. So my advisor says, take it at ****University in the town over in the summer (PHY 1 in June and PHY 2 in July) because it does not have the trig requirement. I heard from a student that trig was hardly used in her PHY class.
So I planned on taking it in the summer, until I received an email from the instructor saying I haven't taken enough math and that it might be a "great challenge" to me.
So my question is, what math was required in your PHY classes? Should I take it and just try to "get by" and tarnish my GPA a bit? I've taken college algebra and did fine. I feel like as long as there is an explanation on how to do the calculations I will be fine... buuuuut now I'm nervous. If I wait to take trig at my home institution and then phy 1 and 2, it will put me back an entire year behind graduation. Registration is in 2 days for these summer classes and I'm not sure what to do.

Thanks for your help!

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[Gwenevre]

I don't think any math was a pre-req for my physics, and I personally think you'll be fine with just algebra in physics. They give you the equations, it's mostly plug and chug from what I remember.

 

[Ashgirl]

I don't think any math was a pre-req for my physics, and I personally think you'll be fine with just algebra in physics. They give you the equations, it's mostly plug and chug from what I remember.

Or at least they SAY they will give you the equations..... *still bitter*

To the OP, it really depends how comfortable you are with having the possibility of having to teach yourself/get help for the trig problems. I know for my physics class there was some trig stuff in there, but it was mostly all based on triangle stuff and wasn't *too* difficult. But then again, if you never seen it before, it might take some extra work to get through it. I personally think it could be doable with just algebra, but it's hard to say how taking physics without trig would affect you personally.

 

[Gwenevre]

Oh yeah, I forgot about SOH CAH TOA. That was as much Trig I think we needed to know.

 

[PreVet_ISU]

Thanks, that makes me feel better!
Maybe the instructor missed my college algebra credit on my transcript? Who knows. I was just thrown off, like why wouldn't you list something as a prereq if it's essential to the course, ya know?
I think I'm going to go forward with the class. I REALLY don't want to go an additional year in undergrad!

 

[VetToBe585]

Did you ask the instructor what math you would need for the course that you're registering for? They would have the best idea and you can read up on it/practice beforehand. At my undergrad, our physics courses were calculus based so we needed to know a TON of math to make it. I think asking the professor is a solid way to get prepared.

 

[jmo1012]

i took my physics courses at home at a local community college, but all courses i would have enrolled in required calculus as a pre-req

 

[LetItSnow]

Did you ask the instructor what math you would need for the course that you're registering for? They would have the best idea and you can read up on it/practice beforehand. At my undergrad, our physics courses were calculus based so we needed to know a TON of math to make it. I think asking the professor is a solid way to get prepared.

Many places have Algebra-based physics and Calculus-based physics as distinctly different classes. The OP probably should check to make sure which these are. If trig is the pre-req (like the OP said), they are surely algebra-based, in which case the OP should be fine if he/she was very comfortable with college algebra.

I still dunno why these are vet-school pre-reqs. I'm one month from graduating and it's a mystery to me.

 

[DVMDream]

I still dunno why these are vet-school pre-reqs. I'm one month from graduating and it's a mystery to me.

Yeah, what is physics? Or do you mean algebra and calculus? What are any of those?

 

[ADM1220]

I took algebra based physics 1 before trig. Trig would have been helpful, but it wasn't anything Khan Academy couldn't teach me. I am in physics 2 now and we use super basic trig, but most of it is manipulating equations and then plug n chug.

 

[battie]

I have a physics horror history. My undergrad only had one physics class sequence, and the professor modeled it to teach it like he was teaching it to engineering students (even though 90% of his students were pre-med/pre-vet). It was as calculus based as you could get and our applied calc class did nothing to prepare me for it. Granted, the professor was a terrible teacher. Khan academy started teaching me physics towards the end of the semester and that is the sole reason I passed.

 

[PreVet_ISU]

*Deep breaths with brown paper bag. Wait, do they even make those anymore?

Sorry. Anyway. I am awaiting to hear back from said instructor. The horrible thing is I found out that the drop with refund date is by 5pm the FIRST day of classes. So, dropping on day two earns me a "W". How is that even fair? But I digress.

 

[IZZY222]

OP, I took both the calc and algebra based physic sequences at my school (I really liked physics).

The algebra based was very basic trig and I felt was straightforward. As previously mentioned, Khan Academy is a great resources. I liked to do their problems to solidify my understanding of concepts that I was fuzzy on. Plus they have "review" videos that you could watch if you are worried about having no trig background.

 

[PreVet_ISU]

Thanks SO much everyone!

 

[pinkpuppy9]

I opened this thinking you were totally going to be asking for homework help, lol.