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For astronomy and astrophysics do I have to know all of the calculus, or there are some topics I must cover?
I studied math in high school but I forgot many things.
7 Answers
- 2 months ago
You should know integral and differential calculus very well at the minimum. Multivariable calculus and differential equations would be helpful, but really just know what a partial derivative is and how to solve the simplest differential equations and you'll be fine for a while. You don't have to actually solve most of the diff eqns involved or do any terribly complicated integrals by hand nowadays. Definitely brush up on statistics and linear algebra! Beyond that, you will learn what you need as you go.
- 2 months ago
Depends on what aspect of astronomy you're pursuing.... Calculating the power output of stars, and element formation may require Calc I; I could see studying the motions of galaxies and expansion needing Calc III and Differential Equations... If you're simply studying where stars are, you could get by with Trig.
- tham153Lv 72 months ago
Statistics--at least 2 semesters. Advanced programming. Differential and Integral calculus. Don't feel to bad about forgetting, so long as you can recover what you've forgotten easily. Sometimes I barely remember L'Hospital's rule.
- ?Lv 62 months ago
Necessary to know differential and integral calculus like the back of your hand. Music training helps, classical piano. Boxing helps and cross country, stamina. Renascence Man.
- 2 months ago
What do you think? Sure a little high school math you forgot should qualify you to be an astrophysicist ,,, not.
- 2 months ago
Depends.
If you want to be an amateur observational astronomer, you don't need any calculus at all.
I suggest that you get a feel for the subject by acquiring some textbooks, preferably pre-1975, and read them through to see what interests you the most. Avoid the internet, which on this subject is little more than a cacophony of vulgar noise. If you stick to textbooks, you can learn to think for yourself instead of being told what to think.