# Any tips on studying please?

1. May 29, 2008

### CGUE

If you could offer any tips for studying for an Algebra test for tomorrow morning it would be great.
It covers:

Vectors:
• Vector quantities and $$\mathbb{R^n}$$
• $$\mathbb{R^2}$$ and analytic geometry
• Points, line segments and lines. Parametric vector equations. Parallel lines.
• Planes. Linear combinations and the span of two vectors. Planes though the origin.
• Parametric vector equations for planes in $$\mathbb{R^n}$$. The linear equation form of a plane.

Matrices:

• Introduction to systems of linear equations. Solution of 2 × 2 and 2 × 3 systems and geometrical interpretations.
• Matrix notation. Elementary row operations.
• Solving systems of equations via Gaussian elimination.
• Deducing solubility from row-echelon form. Solving systems with indeterminate right
hand side.
• General properties of solutions to Ax = b.
• Matrix operations.

No calculators are allowed and it goes for 20 minutes.

Last edited: May 29, 2008
2. May 30, 2008

### mathwonk

tip: if the test is tomorrow morning, all studying should be pretty much completed before tonight. only mild review should be appropriate.

i say this now that the test is over so as not to upset you before the test, but to help on the next test.

3. May 30, 2008

### CGUE

Hmm yeah I got the harder paper and when I solved for the intersection between two planes I was lost when I got infinite solutions after using Gaussian Elimination.

And I still couldn't grasp the concept of linear combination of vectors, i.e. I haven't found a mechanical way to solve questions like these.

Well I guess it all really counts in the end since my final exam is worth 64% of the entire assessment over the semester.

4. May 31, 2008

### mathwonk

of course one should expect two planes to intersect in a line, i.e. infinitely many points.

try to think geometrically.