Course Description
This class is an introduction to Linear Algebra. The content of the course is presented as follows.
1. Vectors, Linear Combinations, Cross Product, Dot Product, Linear Dependence/Independence, Lines & Planes, Gaussian Elimination, Systems of Equations
2. Matrix Operations, Resistor Networks, Geometric Applications, Inverses, Determinants, Transpose of a Matrix, Linear Transformations, Random Walks/Probability Matrices
3. Complex Numbers, Polar/Exponential Form Differential Equations, RLC Circuits, Diagonalization, Eigenvalues & Eigenvectors
Types of Assignments To Expect
MATLAB Assignments - Every two weeks, there is a tutorial that introduces concepts to be utilized for a computer lab assignment using MATLAB. MATLAB is more user-friendly than most programming languages.
Homework Assignments - Your lowest score is always dropped. These assignments aren't representative of the difficulty of the test.
Midterms - Consists of short answers, select all that apply, and long answer questions. The time limits are brutal. There are only 50 minutes to complete the midterm.
Final Exam - Similar to the midterm format except longer.
Advice/Study Tips
This class can ramp up the difficulty by combining different topics into one question which will feel like a tiresome puzzle to figure out. Try to remain calm by writing down what do you know such as a theorem or an operation required for the question and continue on from there.
Complete the practice exams in a timed setting to evaluate your performance and become more comfortable with the intense time limits.
As the course progresses, the content becomes less self-explanatory so you will have to rely more on lecture examples for studying certain concepts since there is little to no practice in the textbook.
Write down a formula sheet with all of the properties of linear algebra concepts and formulas. This course can test you on properties of concepts just as likely as they can test you on applications.
Keep a PDF of all your homework assignments for reference when studying for midterms and final exams.
The WebWorks can be time-consuming because of how difficult the questions can be to figure out and it is very difficult to find solutions unless you have Chegg or a homework help service. Complete the homework with a group of friends to get it finished faster.
Since the homework assignments are very time-consuming, start early and review the concepts related to the homework from the textbook before attempting the homework.
Avoid getting stumped on a homework question for more than 10 minutes. That will lead to frustration and feeling terribly unproductive. Switch to another assignment that you can complete instead.
Try to find as many shortcuts to problems as you can. For the methods presented in class, there are useful shortcuts you can use that can be found through final exam practice on the UBC wiki page for science and mathematics courses.
Ignore the additional topics in the course. They're not a great use of your time.
Resources
1. Introduction to Linear Algebra for Science & Engineering
2. Khan Academy has a very useful guide for understanding the basics of linear algebra.
3. This is Elyse Yeager's website for MATH 152. Her lecture notes for very helpful for completing homework assessments.
4. This is a channel that explains linear algebra using visuals to develop intuition. Highly recommend.
5. There are introduction courses to linear algebra, like the one below that cover most of the topics in MATH 152.
6. Alternate Linear Algebra Textbook.
7. UBC Wiki Page for MATH 152
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