Linear Algebra

[ComicBookDude]

Hello,

Im a math mjaor premed and am taking linear algebra next semester. Anyone here taken it or heard anything regarding difficulty?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[flyingillini]

Hello,

Im a math mjaor premed and am taking linear algebra next semester. Anyone here taken it or heard anything regarding difficulty?

well I know that if you are majoring in math, it is much easier compared to upper level math courses, besides that I don't know much

 

[ShyRem]

linear algebra I? piece of cake.
Linear algebra II? A little harder, but still not bad.
Advanced calc (aka real analysis)? sucked dead moldy rocks. It was killer. five math majors failed it.
Complex analysis? not bad, and quite useful in pchem.
Abstract algebra? not bad, but some tricky stuff at times. Perhaps it was just me - it was the last class for my math major and my head seriously hurt from biochem (which I was taking at the same time).

 

[drcane83]

Hello,

Im a math mjaor premed and am taking linear algebra next semester. Anyone here taken it or heard anything regarding difficulty?

It depends which one you are taking. If you take just the computational one (regular), it's supposedly easy. I took the theoretical one (honors in my school) and it was hard. Kind of wished I took the regular one because the grade kind of hurt my BCPM gpa.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Hello,

Im a math mjaor premed and am taking linear algebra next semester. Anyone here taken it or heard anything regarding difficulty?

The basic material and concepts aren't too bad if you can deal with matrices without your head going into a spin. Like alot of other math classes, it really depends on how hard your professor wants to make it.

 

[novawildcat]

Exactly it depends on how your instructor sets up your LA course. The easier LA courses tend to use a lot of matrices. A hardcore class on LA will use next to 0 matrices the entire semester. I tend to think that LA courses for math majors try to ween you off of matrices and make you think in the more abstract form of linear transformations. LA is probably the most useful math class you will ever take outside of calculus.

 

[Will Ferrell]

it's kind of boring and tedious math. however, it wasn't too difficult. it really depends on your professor.

 

[63768]

linear algebra = differential equations + some abstract stuff. at least for me. it was a pretty simple class, you just needed to be able to think in terms other than numbers.

 

[werd]

linear algebra? y = mx + b... just solve for x. seems pretty simple to me. more seriously, if math is your thing it won't be too painful.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I thought linear algebra was great. I 😍 vector spaces.

Then again I'm a huge nerd... 🙄

 

[happydays]

linear algebra? y = mx + b... just solve for x. seems pretty simple to me. more seriously, if math is your thing it won't be too painful.

that was what I thought too before I took it.

It's a little more complex than that, but Gaussian elimination, finding null spaces, and doing various orthogonalization techniques can be a blast! Take linear; it's a fun class.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

that was what I thought too before I took it.

It's a little more complex than that, but Gaussian elimination, finding null spaces, and doing various orthogonalization techniques can be a blast! Talk linear; it's a fun class.

yeah man. eigen vectors / eigen values all the way!!

 

[novawildcat]

^^^ You need to take a class on infinite dimensional LA. It sounds like you will have TONS of fun. 😀

 

[deuist]

linear algebra = differential equations + some abstract stuff. at least for me. it was a pretty simple class, you just needed to be able to think in terms other than numbers.

What? Your LA class featured DE? For me, linear algebra was a nice break after calc II. It featured a lot of matrix math and some theory.

 

[benfolds21]

i am an engineer and loved all types of math before taking linear algebra last semester (it was my final semester too and so I took the course as more of a fun class).

I think it all depends on the professor, book, etc. I slacked off but it definitely sucked when theory got involved in the class.

 

[unfrozencaveman]

I reached at point in my math career where I literally stopped understanding calculus. I found it really intuitive up to a point (an annoyingly far along point, nonetheless), and then, just totally lost it. So I gave up and took up linear algebra. Definitely my favorite math to date. And so it will remain, as I will never take math again.

Any math majors out there forget everything after they graduated by the way??

 

[oompa loompa]

The last math class I took was Calculus II in high school...I attempted taking Multivariable Calc twice in college, dropped it twice, and thus ended my math career. I kind of regret not continuing though. I feel like math has always helped "oil" the gears in my brain, and after 4+ years without it, I definitely feel mentally challenged whenever someone gives me even a very simple problem.


Anyone up for taking math classes in med school? Just a thought... 😛
Maybe I'll finally take that dreaded stats class

 

[novawildcat]

Any math majors out there forget everything after they graduated by the way??

I forgot a lot of stuff like specific theorems etc. but if you mentioned certain concepts I would be familiar with what you are talking about. A lot of math is NOT intuitive which is why it is so hard to remember a lot of math stuff if you don't use it.

 

[wowowowow101]

I reached at point in my math career where I literally stopped understanding calculus. I found it really intuitive up to a point (an annoyingly far along point, nonetheless), and then, just totally lost it. So I gave up and took up linear algebra. Definitely my favorite math to date. And so it will remain, as I will never take math again.

Any math majors out there forget everything after they graduated by the way??

Senior Engineering Major here.. Took Adv. Calculus as a sophomore. TOTALLY forgot everything that I don't use on a regular basis by end of my Junior year. Calculus does get very difficult once you get past vector & 3D calc. Good call on never taking math again!! Take some more Bio classes 😀

 

[ShyRem]

Most of the math stuff I remembered (yea, I was a math major) is stuff I use in other areas - I remember some complex analysis theorems mainly because I used them in Pchem. I remember some group theory because I used it in other chem classes. I remember some integrations better than others because I used them in physics.

If I used a particular part of math in another class for something it sticks better. Lots of stuff I forgot just because I didn't use it anywhere else.

 

[unfrozencaveman]

The only thing that stuck was a practical knowledge of statistics, and a weird pet peeve with people who completely misconstrue how statistics works.

When I was taking my prereqs after a few years out of college, I got into a massive fight with a professor about how his "extra credit" questions were just extra questions. Dont even get me started. I think I've even gone on this rant on sdn before. Gah I could kill someone over that.

 

[deuist]

I never thought that I would use math in medical school. In my pharmacology class, I used some calculus and graphical programming to solve a problem about half lives---definitely not the route that I would recommend. The teacher was pretty impressed and kept saying, "That's beautiful math."

 

[63768]

What? Your LA class featured DE? For me, linear algebra was a nice break after calc II. It featured a lot of matrix math and some theory.

hahah yes. my linear algebra was definitely not a break. yet, i'm glad i took it because it prepared me for econometrics and mathematical economics.

 

[novawildcat]

If you liked math econ, take advanced macro economics. All macro economics taught before advanced macro is simply incomplete. No economist today actually uses or believes the IS-LM model. Advanced macro is when actually get to learn real macro economics.