Revision as of 17:25, 5 October 2011 by Lee832 (Talk | contribs)

Introduction


I, and I assume other students, often find learning experience enhanced when the context of the study, i.e. origin and the application, clearly visible. (e.g. Students like psychology class - it's about themselves) And it is with this intent of identifying the context of linear algebra I sought to compile articles and notes for the project.

I set forth to identify an individual responsible for the invention of linear algebra, a progenitor of the principles of linear algebra as Newton was to Calculus (or was he?). I no longer think of doing so. Theorems and rules are attributed to single/group of mathematicians; linear algebra, I think, cannot. Rather, linear algebra appears to be a fundamental faculty in mathematics, and as I lend Professor Uli's words, "Linear algebra to mathematician is what addition and multiplication is to non-mathematicians." Perhaps as one cannot find a sole author of a particular language, one cannot find one for linear algebra. Rather, I will compile brief biography of intriguing mathematicians who may have had some say in advances in linear algebra, though I worry t

In the search for application, few application matrix theory are readily noted, including its use in the Google's PageRank algorithm and alternate representation of geometry/graphs, but I'm rather unsatisfied with such selections since I also see them as general application of mathematics. What I mean by the previous statement is that I use the term linear algebra and mathematics indiscriminately because I do not understand both well.


In adolescence, I hated life and was continually on the verge of suicide, from which, however, I was restrained by the desire to know more mathematics.

Alumni Liaison

Abstract algebra continues the conceptual developments of linear algebra, on an even grander scale.

Dr. Paul Garrett