Linear Algebra II
A
AY22/23 S1
Similar to MA2001, this course talks all about linear spaces. However, this time, the concepts are much more abstract. We rarely see numbers, but instead, we see lots and lots of unreadable notation. There are lots of powerful theorems in this course, and you have to apply them masterfully in your proofs.
The first 8 topics were mostly recaps of MA2001 topics. Concepts like isomorphism, transformations, basis vectors. But now, we don't really deal with any numbers, but instead we are taught their theorems. I'd say that if you're struggling with this part of the course, then the course is not for you haha.
Because the rest of the course is just... So much content. Chapter 9: Eigenvalues. It is already bigger than the first 8 chapters combined. Same goes for Chapter 10: Jordan Canonical Forms and Chapter 11: Inner Products and Bilinear Forms. The content is so dense, with a new powerful theorems being thrown out every page of the lecture notes. I honestly thing the pacing of the course is off, as the first half feels so empty, while the second half feels so full. It would do good if the prof speeds up the first half, as that part doesn't really matter too much.
Workload is relatively high for a math mod, as there are 5 graded assignments, compulsory tutorial attendance, and two exams. The assignments are quite difficult, owing to the difficulty of the course itself. It can take a few tries to get the optimal proof for submission, but I think overall they are quite fair. The finals were abnormally easy, as the questions were quite straightforward and standard. But I think other sems were much more difficult, with more tricky questions and non-standard answers.
I wasn't expecting an A at all, but I think that just goes to show that the bell curve for this course is much better than that of MA2001.