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From: g-rh@cca.UUCP (Richard Harter)
Newsgroups: net.cse
Subject: Re: Math and CS
Message-ID: <6622@cca.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Mar-86 23:12:54 EST
Article-I.D.: cca.6622
Posted: Mon Mar 10 23:12:54 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 20:52:32 EST
References: <256@hropus.UUCP> <6400005@ccvaxa> <77@umcp-cs.UUCP> <1194@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU> <587@hoptoad.uucp> <>
Reply-To: g-rh@cca.UUCP (Richard Harter)
Organization: Computer Corp. of America, Cambridge
Lines: 29
Keywords: Linear algebra
Summary: 

In article <> flackc@stolaf.UUCP (Chap Flack) writes:
>Laura Creighton writes:
>> in point -- linear algebra.  I am in the unfortunate position that I
>> can't get my csc degree without the course in Linear Algebra -- and
>> I could knock it off in one semester if I could get that course.  But
>> :
>
>I *hated* linear.  I passed by the skin of my teeth and the mercy of
>my prof.  I spent the term doing all sorts of mechanical procedures
>without ever feeling like I was *doing* anything.
>
	This whole interchange puzzles me.  What are they teaching
as linear algebra these days that makes it so hard?  I would suppose
that a linear algebra course would cover such things as vector spaces,
linear transformations, matrix representation of linear transformations,
and the principal properties of matrices (i.e., rank, diagonalization,
eigenvalue-eigenvector representation, etc.).  It might cover linear
transformation groups also, which I admit can get hairy.

	Now I well understand that one can be blocked against a subject
or find it intrinsically uncomfortable, but I find it hard to understand
how linear algebra could be one of those subjects.  Upon reflection, I
will concede that it could be very dry if it were taught by one of those
masters of aridity that infest university math departments.  But it is
so incredibly fundamental to applied mathematics that the concept of a
linear system ought to become intuitive by extended exposure.  Color
me confused.

	Richard Harter, SMDS Inc.