Matrices Module

[AngelWings]

Okay, so my school isn't doing Matrices and I'm hoping to study it as a back up module. (This would be my fourth, excluding the core data one.) I looked at the stuff on VCAA and some of it doesn't seem to click. Could someone provide a more "lay man's English" version of it and what is supposed to be covered?

An outline would be fine too. Or any previous links. I haven't seen any yet, but that would be great.

If it helps you in any way, I also do Methods, so I've technically done Matrices this year. (That is, I've understood most of the file on VCAA, but some of it just looks strange, such as transition matrices. - I haven't done Probability yet, in Methods either.)  I'm looking at this link here: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/bulletin/05aprsu3.pdf

Thanks in advance.

[spectroscopy]

i wouldnt suggest switching modules, but if you must, matrices is okay, there is a fair amoutn of stuff to learn with steady states, and im not sure how much that coincides with methods (also havent done probability yet), but if you arent already doing linear, you should look at doing that instead of matrices as a back up, considering you do methods, there isnt much new stuff to learn, most of it is logical if you are good at math and good at verbal reasoning(figuring out hat the question wants)

[AngelWings]

Thanks for replying, spectroscopy.

Steady states and transition matrices look like the only things I'm missing here... so, if you could please explain that, that would be awesome.

I'm doing linear soon, so that's kind of out of the question. I'm fine with what I've got now, it's just that my school is slow. As I'm aiming high (like 44+ SS), I was hoping to get through Matrices and give myself some options during the exam. (You know, so I can increase my chance of getting full marks... yadda yadda.)

[keltingmeith]

Steady states/transition matrices are covered in markov chains when you get to methods.

I'm going through last year's further exam module 6, and it doesn't look like you'd be too disadvantaged - having said that, you need to understand.

Further uses matrices as a method of data analysis, whereas methods uses matrices as a methodical technique for transformations and being able to work with markov chains. As such, you should realise that the types of questions are going to be very different, and you're going to have to practice these types of questions - don't expect to just walk in and be able to do well in this module just because you did methods (unlike linear relations, where it pretty much is that).

[AngelWings]

Thanks EulerFan101. I wouldn't even dream of walking in there with just my Methods knowledge. For sure, I'll be doing some extra research.