UoM General Chat

[alondouek]

Wait, linear algebra can't be that hard right?

From the unimelb website:

Systems of linear equations, matrices and determinants; vectors in real n-space, cross product, scalar triple product, lines and planes; vector spaces, linear independence, basis, dimension; linear transformations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors; inner products, least squares estimation, symmetric and orthogonal matrices.

Sounds pretty face-melting to me, dude

[abcdqdxD]

Can anyone comment on the difficulty of QM1 and QM2? How would they compare to straight out mathsy subjects in terms of difficulty?

[psyxwar]

Systems of linear equations, matrices and determinants; vectors in real n-space, cross product, scalar triple product, lines and planes; vector spaces, linear independence, basis, dimension; linear transformations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors; inner products, least squares estimation, symmetric and orthogonal matrices.

hey I know some of those words!

[LeviLamp]

VivaTequila you were totally in my German 1 tutes, whaaat

[nubs]

Wait, linear algebra can't be that hard right?

It's much harder than it sounds
I found the linear algebra sections of AM1 to be way harder than calculus 2

[Deleted User]

Hey guys, what are your thoughts on doing a subject where the only assessment is a 3500 word research essay that is worth 100% of your marks (I'm talking about Legal Language btw)? Is it a good idea to 'put all your eggs in one basket', so to speak?

[charmanderp]

Hey guys, what are your thoughts on doing a subject where the only assessment is a 3500 word research essay that is worth 100% of your marks (I'm talking about Legal Language btw)? Is it a good idea to 'put all your eggs in one basket', so to speak?

It'd be a good challenge! And given that it's an assignment, you can devote a lot of time to doing well in it. I wouldn't back away from it if it interests you just because the assessment seems daunting (: Go for it!

[hobbitle]

Wait, linear algebra can't be that hard right?

It is pretty face-melting, to quote alandouek.

[b^3]

Wait, linear algebra can't be that hard right?

It's quite horrible, (note: did the Monash version not the UoM version but anyways). As the others have said it's really abstract and hard to get your head around when there isn't always something to physically represent what you're trying to do (for some parts). For the majority of the semester that I did the similar unit at Monash I had no clue what was happening (resorting to learning from a single past exam solutions and pulled it off in the end somehow). That and it seems to be a lot more wordy than most of the maths units that people have done up until that point, and sometimes you'll be asked to prove things that seem completely obvious, but when it actually comes down to proving them gets really involved...

Linear Algebra isn't what you're probably thinking of, it's not as simple as straight lines.

[lzxnl]

Wait, linear algebra can't be that hard right?

I've looked at parts of the linear algebra course, and I can assure you, if I fail maths next year, it'll be because of linear algebra.

[vcestudent94]

Wait, linear algebra can't be that hard right?

I didn't think it was too hard. Everyone's different. For example, I found lin alg easier than calc 2 because I enjoyed that type of maths more and therefore put more time into it. If you enjoy what you are doing then you will do very well regardless.

[LeviLamp]

I wouldn't say you will do very well regardless :/ Some things are really hard and require lots of study, and if you enjoy something and don't put in much study time you're unlikely to come out with a good mark. Probably easier to do well if you're interested though, since you'll be more motivated to learn

[charmanderp]

I wouldn't say you will do very well regardless :/ Some things are really hard and require lots of study, and if you enjoy something and don't put in much study time you're unlikely to come out with a good mark. Probably easier to do well if you're interested though, since you'll be more motivated to learn

I think they were inferring that if you enjoy a subject you're more likely to be putting in the effort to study it and get good grades.

[Dismounted]

Linear Algebra really does depend on what kind of thinker you are. If you're able to "picture" things not easily pictured, it all collapses down quite straight-forwardly in the end. It is very much about understanding - once you actually understand what is happening, you'll notice the course just repeats itself... (You'll do a bunch of stuff with the vectors you know - n-tuples, and come back to do the same things with general vector spaces - take polynomials as vectors, take matrices as vectors, etc. Scary things like "kernels" and "images" are things you learnt in week 1, etc.)

Except for the proofs. They've give you something that you go "duh, of course that's true", and have no idea how to begin an actual proof.

Full disclosure: I really liked Linear Algebra (compared with Calculus 2). My marks reflected that.

[Greatness]

Can anyone comment on the difficulty of QM1 and QM2? How would they compare to straight out mathsy subjects in terms of difficulty?

Not difficult at all if you're good at math. I've done Calc 2, Linear Algebra and Eng Math along with QM1 and QM2. IMO QM1 and QM2 are far easier than the first 3 subjects I listed. QM is just statistics and all the questions have a methodical procedure you follow to get your answer. It can be a little tricky when you have to decide what kind of hypothesis test you should use, but if you follow the guidelines/'rules' then you should be ok.