- #1
Stevecgz
- 68
- 0
So I'm about 10 weeks into my first course on linear algebra. Things are going well I sopose, I'm finding it much easier than diff eq or calc, but I'm also finding it to be terribly boring.
Unlike many other math courses, this linear algabra course (and text) has yet to present any applications whatsoever. Everything is just plain math problems. This is quite a change from diff eq and calc, where nearly every concept is presented along with at least one, if not several possible applications (even if many of them are merely trivial).
Now sure, I can think of lots of applications where being able to solve a large number of linear equations is useful, for example circuit problems, or analyzing truss members, or even differential equations with constant coefficients. But for the simple purpose of solving a large system of linear equations, MATLAB does the trick nicely, and it certianly does not require a semester of instruction to learn how. In fact, I knew how to solve systems of linear equations using my TI-83 long before I even knew what linear algebra was.
From my (limited) experience, it seems that the truley interesting and meaningful things in this world are rarely linear. And for those few things that are linear, matlab, or similar programs will take care of them in short order.
I bet by now you're thinking "isn't this guy ignorant, I can think of hundreds of things that linear algebra is good for." Well I hope that is what you're thinking. And I hope you'll take a couple minutes to explain to me a few of these things.
Thanks.
Unlike many other math courses, this linear algabra course (and text) has yet to present any applications whatsoever. Everything is just plain math problems. This is quite a change from diff eq and calc, where nearly every concept is presented along with at least one, if not several possible applications (even if many of them are merely trivial).
Now sure, I can think of lots of applications where being able to solve a large number of linear equations is useful, for example circuit problems, or analyzing truss members, or even differential equations with constant coefficients. But for the simple purpose of solving a large system of linear equations, MATLAB does the trick nicely, and it certianly does not require a semester of instruction to learn how. In fact, I knew how to solve systems of linear equations using my TI-83 long before I even knew what linear algebra was.
From my (limited) experience, it seems that the truley interesting and meaningful things in this world are rarely linear. And for those few things that are linear, matlab, or similar programs will take care of them in short order.
I bet by now you're thinking "isn't this guy ignorant, I can think of hundreds of things that linear algebra is good for." Well I hope that is what you're thinking. And I hope you'll take a couple minutes to explain to me a few of these things.
Thanks.