What Is Considered the Most Difficult Topic in Linear Algebra?

[srfriggen]

Hello,

I don't have a HW problem to post (yet) but I have just started taking college level Linear Algebra and was wondering what most people consider the most difficult topics in the course?

At this point I am up to solving for systems of many variables (usually 3) by performing row operations to invert matrices etc.

So far (2 weeks in) the class seems fairly easy, but everyone I've spoken to says that linear algebra starts off slow then gets very complex and difficult.

 

[hunt_mat]

Linear algebra is a nice subject that people in general don't have that much trouble with. I certainly never had much trouble with it but analysis was another problem. It took me a while to get my head around the idea of a limit.

 

[Mark44]

Hello,

I don't have a HW problem to post (yet) but I have just started taking college level Linear Algebra and was wondering what most people consider the most difficult topics in the course?

At this point I am up to solving for systems of many variables (usually 3) by performing row operations to invert matrices etc.

So far (2 weeks in) the class seems fairly easy, but everyone I've spoken to says that linear algebra starts off slow then gets very complex and difficult.

IMO, one of the most difficult topics are linear transformations and matrix diagonalization. The latter topic involves eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

 

[hunt_mat]

These are not that hard and can be very fun to play with. Matrix diagonalisation is pretty simple and fun too. I think that you will have a great time with this course. It is one of the subjects that underpins most of modern maths.