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Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

immersivemath.com

21–30 of 37 posts

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#21

Why are programmers always so attracted by these interactive/over-simplified/lightweight versions of linear algebra? They all focus on the visual aspects while ignoring the real stuff (theorems, proofs, etc.).

In my experience, mathematicians are attracted by over-simplified/lightweight versions of programming. I think "just tell me what I need to do my job" is a universal human principle.

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#23

Why are programmers always so attracted by these interactive/over-simplified/lightweight versions of linear algebra? They all focus on the visual aspects while ignoring the real stuff (theorems, proofs, etc.).

Have you opened the book? There are both theorems and proofs there.

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#24

Why are programmers always so attracted by these interactive/over-simplified/lightweight versions of linear algebra? They all focus on the visual aspects while ignoring the real stuff (theorems, proofs, etc.).

Why do you consider a "real" textbook for linear algebra?

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#25

Why are programmers always so attracted by these interactive/over-simplified/lightweight versions of linear algebra? They all focus on the visual aspects while ignoring the real stuff (theorems, proofs, etc.).

Have you opened the book? There are both theorems and proofs there.

Maybe I should’ve been more clear: what I meant is that these programmers-oriented resources are all about applications…maybe a bit too much. For instance, In this book I cannot find the algebraic structure of vector spaces, theorems about how certain linear operators such as the kernel or the image led to subspaces (which is a very important result) or a proper introduction to the spectral theorem, for both Euclidean and Hermitian spaces (which also allows you to introduce some nice functional analysis).

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#26

Why are programmers always so attracted by these interactive/over-simplified/lightweight versions of linear algebra? They all focus on the visual aspects while ignoring the real stuff (theorems, proofs, etc.).

Can you read your own writing? What makes someone a "programmer" vs a mathematician? If you suspended your arrogance for a few moments you might realize you've wasted our time with a question that answers itself. I mean it's also a generalization of very little value. Is someone doing linear algebra in lean not doing "the real stuff"? What is a programmer to you? Your question is why do some people not follow an area…

Bold of you to talk about arrogance…

Besides, I've never met a physicist or a (real) engineer who would go to such lengths to oversimplify the math part, even if it was only “tangential” to them.

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#27
post #3

I LOVE this book! Where was it when I was learning algebra, years ago?? Thanks for posting. I wish there were many other books done similarly. Selfishly, I'd love to see statistics, probability and advanced robotics displayed this way. <3 <3

Well there is:

https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/java/elements/elements.htm...

for geometry.

(previously I was noting a physics PDF set as well, but it's apparently not well-grounded/is controversial)

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#28

Why are programmers always so attracted by these interactive/over-simplified/lightweight versions of linear algebra? They all focus on the visual aspects while ignoring the real stuff (theorems, proofs, etc.).

I don’t think they are simplified but they are an introduction course for sure. I think what’s usually missing is integrating (heh) linear algebra with calculus for solving more interesting problems but I think the audience for that needs to have a big appetite first. And those are hard to come by unless it’s pushed on you to finish your degree. And even then, people barely scrape by in those classes.

I am kinda this person, any good resources/texts on this? I'm very slow but I have no deadlines.

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think they are simplified but they are an introduction course for sure. I think what’s usually missing is integrating (heh) linear algebra with calculus for solving more interesting problems but I think the audience for that needs to have a big appetite first. And those are hard to come by unless it’s pushed on you to finish your degree. And even then, people barely scrape by in those classes.

I am kinda this person, any good resources/texts on this? I'm very slow but I have no deadlines.

Slow is fine, and I do.

My personal favorite is a former NASA employee who recorded a series of lessons for students to use to supplement their normal undergrad studies, prepare for exams, that kind of thing. He has a YouTube channel which has all sorts of topics (for free), but his site has paid videos on math, chemistry, electricity, some electronics, statistics, and a few other topics. You can find it on the high seas if you want a preview. Look up MathTutorDVD. It is not the end all, be all, but it is very helpful and I’ve learned in my own spare time lots. He covers high school math to Calculus 3 and probably beyond. I haven’t looked in a long time.

Khan Academy is also an option but I have not used it much so I can’t sufficiently comment on it. The things I’ve seen there have been decent and their main faculty are highly technical people who went into teaching. People have said great things about K.A., and likely they have a better way to track your progress and they might have better quizzes and tests.

One thing I remember specifically being called out is that majority of students who struggle with Calculus struggle almost exclusively due to linear algebra and formula manipulation. That the actual Calculus part is not the problem, it’s the lack of pre-requisite practice and learning more than anything.

The standard Calculus book by James Stewart will do. It covers most of the same. It is readable and quite affordable because it is so widespread.

A nice “1000 problems solved in Calculus” work book will also help. Practice is always good here, and it feels good when ideas learned from multiple sources work together.

Lastly, there are a couple of solid books that go into translating mathematical concepts so as to be usable in computer software, meaning how to take math formulas and turn them into usable algorithms. I want to bring to your attention their existence because eventually this is something that needs to be done, but trying to do everything at once will overwhelm you and distract you. It is however a “thing” when you get things down.

I recommend getting some notebooks - lined and square, a set of colored pens, and writing each and every exercise, lecture down. Color code notes, formulas, your own solutions and corrections. Grade yourself if need be. Keep your notebooks, labeled after each subject. I don’t know to what extent digital note taking is done today but I’ve always personally found it ineffective. So if you already self identify as a slow learner, writing things down in a meticulous way should help you greatly. Notebooks and pens are otherwise cheap, better to have an excess than not enough.

I hope this helps. I’m sure other people here have far better resources and I’ve forgotten all the stuff I used, but I’m not dead set on any one method.

Re: Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures (2015)

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am kinda this person, any good resources/texts on this? I'm very slow but I have no deadlines.

Slow is fine, and I do. My personal favorite is a former NASA employee who recorded a series of lessons for students to use to supplement their normal undergrad studies, prepare for exams, that kind of thing. He has a YouTube channel which has all sorts of topics (for free), but his site has paid videos on math, chemistry, electricity, some electronics, statistics, and a few other topics. You can find it on the high…

Wonderful, thank you!
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