Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

For some reason linear algebra still isn't part of standard Mechanical Engineering course load (Calc 1, 2, 3, DiffEq) which made life extremely difficult in some of the later classes. I remember spending weeks brute forcing a lot of things that would have been trivial with a little bit of matrix math.

I took a superficially similar class as a 400 level elective but it assumed everyone already knew linear algebra going in, and it was a disaster.

Re: Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

#5

Post by jackschultz » Wed, Jan 08, 2025, 3:11 PM UTC

trillic wrote: post #3

MATH 214 (intro to Linear) was the least enjoyable class during my undergraduate at Umich. This seems like a better intro.

For engineering we had to pick either multivariate calculus or linear algebra for more upper level math courses. I picked multivariate, and I'll say it was also my least enjoyable there. I look back wondering what would have gone different if I picked linear algebra instead, but who knows, maybe I'd have just as blech of an experience with that. Lot of great classes in the EECS department though.

Re: Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

#6

Post by yardie » Wed, Jan 08, 2025, 3:16 PM UTC

I love Linear Algebra. I took it in college almost 20 years ago and I still use it everyday. The higher level maths almost broke me academically. And it was a course in LA that really kept my head in the game. Even now, when I'm talking to students I try and encourage them to take the class if it's available.

Re: Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

#7

Post by RobbieGM » Wed, Jan 08, 2025, 3:23 PM UTC

I took this course 3 years ago. I found it fast-moving, and it focused a lot more on applications than fundamentals, which meant it was more wide than it was deep. This didn't turn out so well when I decided to study ML later and needed stronger linear algebra fundamentals, but it was a fun course. There were a couple interesting course projects, one of which was using linear algebra to balance a (simulated) 2D robot.

Re: Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

#8

Post by WillAdams » Wed, Jan 08, 2025, 3:23 PM UTC

angry_moose wrote: post #4

Man this would have been nice when I was in school. For some reason linear algebra still isn't part of standard Mechanical Engineering course load (Calc 1, 2, 3, DiffEq) which made life extremely difficult in some of the later classes. I remember spending weeks brute forcing a lot of things that would have been trivial with a little bit of matrix math. I took a superficially similar class as a 400 level elective but…

Currently watching:

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/6-042j-mathematics-for-computer-...

and that assumption seems to be there as well, so very glad of the posting of the Youtube links elsethread.

Re: Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

#9

Post by byefruit » Wed, Jan 08, 2025, 3:34 PM UTC

RobbieGM wrote: post #7

I took this course 3 years ago. I found it fast-moving, and it focused a lot more on applications than fundamentals, which meant it was more wide than it was deep. This didn't turn out so well when I decided to study ML later and needed stronger linear algebra fundamentals, but it was a fun course. There were a couple interesting course projects, one of which was using linear algebra to balance a (simulated) 2D robot…

What would you recommend for building a strong linear algebra foundation?

Re: Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

#10

Post by RobbieGM » Wed, Jan 08, 2025, 3:39 PM UTC

byefruit wrote: post #9

RobbieGM wrote: post #7

I took this course 3 years ago. I found it fast-moving, and it focused a lot more on applications than fundamentals, which meant it was more wide than it was deep. This didn't turn out so well when I decided to study ML later and needed stronger linear algebra fundamentals, but it was a fun course. There were a couple interesting course projects, one of which was using linear algebra to balance a (simulated) 2D robot…

What would you recommend for building a strong linear algebra foundation?

UMich has a couple other linear algebra courses that might be better for that: MATH 214, MATH 217 are the numbers if I remember correctly. 217 is known for having a high workload and greater rigor, but some say it's worth it even for non-Math majors.