What Is The Purpose Of Matrix Algebra?

Lancelot59 · Oct 9, 2009

Well I'm going to be taking Matrix Algebra next semester, and I have no clue what it's for. Wikipedia wasn't too enlightening. What is the purpose of matrix algebra, and what is is commonly used for?

Integral · Oct 9, 2009

Solving systems of equations.

HallsofIvy · Oct 9, 2009

That's one possibility. More generally, matrices allow you to work with a whole lot of things at once. (As, for example, a whole lot of equations.) In my opinion, the most important property of matrices is that they can be used to represent linear transformation on a vector space. But if you course is specifically titled "Matrix Algebra" rather than "Linear Algebra" you probably won't be working with that.

CRGreathouse · Oct 9, 2009

I mostly use them to solve systems of equations. They're extremely important for computer graphics, to give one application example.

Lancelot59 · Oct 9, 2009

Yeah, the course is just called "Matrix Algebra for Engineers".

What Is The Purpose Of Matrix Algebra?

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