Yesterday I pushed a tiny javascript algebra on github. I'll just leave the link here:
https://github.com/plainas/ualgebra.js
It might be useful for you guys to check solutions and such.
Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
21–30 of 67 posts
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#22Which textbook are we talking about? Timing isn't perfect for me, but I'm willing to at least try until everything catches up with me.
I'd also like to know which book. I just bought Strang's Introduction to Linear Algebra to study along with his video lectures.
If it's based on this book I'd love to join.
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#23That sounds good to me. Here in Chicago? If we need a location, my office and apartment building are options...
Daniel's in Canadia. We can just do it on HN, with a post every other week. It probably won't hit the front page often, but who cares? We were going to do this internally at our Chicago office (Timur is a math grad student), so I'm open to Chicago-specific extensions, especially if they involve alcohol. I'm better at math when slightly buzzed.
I would be curious to do this and am in Chicago. Hopefully I wouldn't hold back the group!
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm in. How do we coordinate? http://convore.com perhaps?
I seriously think we could just do it on HN threads... There are feature-y-er places to do it, but this place actually works.
I agree. I'm superstitious about origins. When something spontaneously happens at location X it's good to let it continue to evolve there. I say we stay where the party started. We can post occasionally and nobody who's uninterested need look at it. I also confess to tasting sweet irony in the idea of turning HN to more productive use. I feel like I've finally got my enemy in a corner. (The internet has never stopped me from working, but man has it stopped me from learning. But I digress.)
As for what book: "Linear Algebra and its Applications" by Strang does sound like a good fit for hackers. I was convinced by this review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R289C7K1TN2RO2/ref=cm_cr_pr_per.... Some cheaper copies are available on Abebooks.
There's a case to be made for the other Strang, but again - origins are magic, so unless there's a compelling negative I say we stick with tptacek's original inspiration.
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
I seriously think we could just do it on HN threads... There are feature-y-er places to do it, but this place actually works.
I agree. I'm superstitious about origins. When something spontaneously happens at location X it's good to let it continue to evolve there. I say we stay where the party started. We can post occasionally and nobody who's uninterested need look at it. I also confess to tasting sweet irony in the idea of turning HN to more productive use. I feel like I've finally got my enemy in a corner. (The internet has never stopped…
All of that sounds good—count me in.
Should we wait a week before starting so people can get their hands on the text?
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
I seriously think we could just do it on HN threads... There are feature-y-er places to do it, but this place actually works.
I agree. I'm superstitious about origins. When something spontaneously happens at location X it's good to let it continue to evolve there. I say we stay where the party started. We can post occasionally and nobody who's uninterested need look at it. I also confess to tasting sweet irony in the idea of turning HN to more productive use. I feel like I've finally got my enemy in a corner. (The internet has never stopped…
How many times have I seen an ad hoc thread that people would just hit reply-all to converted into a mailing list. Instant community killer.
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
I seriously think we could just do it on HN threads... There are feature-y-er places to do it, but this place actually works.
So do we post our answers and get downvoted if wrong? (and sometimes anyway) It's hard to beat an elegant site like this that we're already registered for, but I'm having trouble visualizing matrices in this markup. [ 1 0 0 ] [ 0 1 0 ] [ 0 0 1 ] OK, worth a shot.
I'd think we'd mostly be saying "I liked this" or "I didn't understand that", not so much quizzing. But I don't know, never done this before.
Can always link pictures to threads if ASCII gets too hard.
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#28Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#29I'm game. Where do we sign up ?
You don't. That's the best thing about it. We'll agree on this thread what book we're using and when the first study thread will happen; then, a couple weeks from now when it's time, someone will just post STUDY HN: Linear Algebra Chapter 1, and I will ask some dumb question and Colin Percival will jump on me for being dumb and we'll be off to the races.
I'm psyched.
Re: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group
#30I'm in. Though I don't think HN is the place to run the study group.