Hard disagree. Linear algebra can make pretty shapes and colors from a bunch of vertices, while calculus can make you want to quit school and become a plumber.
Quoting a relatively famous mathematician, linear algebra is one of the few branches of math we've really truly understood. It's very, very well behaved
It wouldn't have been published, and he's only relatively famous if you're a topologist, but it was Charlie Frohman. Not that it must carry the same weight for you, but I value his insight highly, even if it's just a quip.
I have learned linear algebra in a few different contexts now, and each one I learned made it easier. When I first learned it, it was in a pure maths context and I found it tricky. It began to make more sense in university, when I learned it in the context of x-ray crystallography. I think more so than most topics, linear algebra really needs the context of it's usefulness for it to really make sense, but also, I think I'd have struggled with the x-ray crystallography if I hadn't already got a grounding in linear algebra from a pure maths angle.
Yeah I got zero context when I learned linear algebra and it seems everyone here that loves it is pointing to something outside the math itself for why. My brain only knows it as a bunch of nonsense matrix rules you gotta memorize.
21 Comments
Rognaut@lemmy.world · 49 pts · 2y
Trig is not bad at all. Couple dozen rules to memorize and you're golden.
Now Calculus... Integrals...
GiveMemes@jlai.lu · 28 pts · 2y
The worst part of calc was honestly the rude awakening that my algebra skills needed woooork
Yondoza@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 2y
Totally agree. The general concept of calculus is pretty straightforward. The implementation of calculus is an exercise of algebra.
Liz@midwest.social · 16 pts · 2y
Calculus is intuitive and sexy. Linear algebra, on the other hand...
flerp@lemm.ee · 12 pts · 2y
I love linear algebra! It's one of the coolest and most satisfying maths (for me personally)
pivot_root@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
Try playing around with GLSL shaders! They're a fun application of linear algebra and have a satisfyingly quick feedback time.
kurwa@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
I agree! That was the one class I took where it just all made sense for me.
pivot_root@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 2y
Hard disagree. Linear algebra can make pretty shapes and colors from a bunch of vertices, while calculus can make you want to quit school and become a plumber.
kogasa@programming.dev · 11 pts · 2y
Quoting a relatively famous mathematician, linear algebra is one of the few branches of math we've really truly understood. It's very, very well behaved
AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 2y
I've not heard that quote, who said it?
kogasa@programming.dev · 1 pts · 2y
It wouldn't have been published, and he's only relatively famous if you're a topologist, but it was Charlie Frohman. Not that it must carry the same weight for you, but I value his insight highly, even if it's just a quip.
AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net · 8 pts · 2y
I have learned linear algebra in a few different contexts now, and each one I learned made it easier. When I first learned it, it was in a pure maths context and I found it tricky. It began to make more sense in university, when I learned it in the context of x-ray crystallography. I think more so than most topics, linear algebra really needs the context of it's usefulness for it to really make sense, but also, I think I'd have struggled with the x-ray crystallography if I hadn't already got a grounding in linear algebra from a pure maths angle.
Liz@midwest.social · 6 pts · 2y
Yeah I got zero context when I learned linear algebra and it seems everyone here that loves it is pointing to something outside the math itself for why. My brain only knows it as a bunch of nonsense matrix rules you gotta memorize.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
Ok yeah that sounds awful. I was taught it by an engineer and it was great
AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y
Number Theory can fuck right off.
Johandea@feddit.nu · 4 pts · 2y
Statistics truly is god's work. The petty, sadistic, contradictory god of the bible, that is.
trashgirlfriend@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Linear algebra? What about liminal algebra
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
Linear algebra was so much easier. It’s just vectors
sundray@lemmus.org · 24 pts · 2y
I cosign this.
wewbull@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 2y
...and punctuation.
MehBlah@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
especially that