MATH 33A
Linear Algebra and Applications
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisite: course 3B or 31B or 32A with grade of C- or better. Introduction to linear algebra: systems of linear equations, matrix algebra, linear independence, subspaces, bases and dimension, orthogonality, least-squares methods, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, matrix diagonalization, and symmetric matrices. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
9 of 10
Most Helpful Review
Horrible test maker. Let's be completely honest as an engineer, you have to take this class and it's linear algebra (math that is done on a scale with computers that you don't even need to comprehend this stuff). This professor puts true and false on his tests on material that's conceptual black holes like finding exceptions to an infinite by infinite matrix to find an exception to the true and false. It got to the point where after the first few true and false i started questioning every term i knew in the book so that even though the problems with the mechanics of the problems were easy, i questioned every single key phrase that could help me solve that problem. I get it, some professors love their subject and what not but for students that have to go through these hellish walls of prereqs and to find a professor that gives ridiculous tests for no utter reason makes me really scratch my head at the utter illogical nature of why these professors try to rape their students for no reason. if you can choose another professor, do it. no point is destroying your gpa to learn a math subject you're not going to apply in real life if you're an engineer. if you're a math major, then get yourself raped at your own enjoyment and "learning" experience value. don't say i didn't warn you.
Horrible test maker. Let's be completely honest as an engineer, you have to take this class and it's linear algebra (math that is done on a scale with computers that you don't even need to comprehend this stuff). This professor puts true and false on his tests on material that's conceptual black holes like finding exceptions to an infinite by infinite matrix to find an exception to the true and false. It got to the point where after the first few true and false i started questioning every term i knew in the book so that even though the problems with the mechanics of the problems were easy, i questioned every single key phrase that could help me solve that problem. I get it, some professors love their subject and what not but for students that have to go through these hellish walls of prereqs and to find a professor that gives ridiculous tests for no utter reason makes me really scratch my head at the utter illogical nature of why these professors try to rape their students for no reason. if you can choose another professor, do it. no point is destroying your gpa to learn a math subject you're not going to apply in real life if you're an engineer. if you're a math major, then get yourself raped at your own enjoyment and "learning" experience value. don't say i didn't warn you.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2019 - Mrs Wang is a grad student that taught 33A Spring 2019. I personally liked Stephanie and did rly well in her class, however I must admit it is not an easy class. Stephanie's teaching style is very in depth and very fast. She will often give you very technical definitions of every theorem, sometimes with insufficient explanation so you are often left confused with a whole board of writing. There have been many times where no one in the class understood what she had just proven. However, her homework, while long and hard, is helpful with understanding the material. However, her quizzes are very fair. To study for the midterms and finals, I reviewed the quiz and hw solutions and that helped me a lot with the test. If you can understand Stephanie's lecture, you will be very knowledgeable of the material and do well.
Spring 2019 - Mrs Wang is a grad student that taught 33A Spring 2019. I personally liked Stephanie and did rly well in her class, however I must admit it is not an easy class. Stephanie's teaching style is very in depth and very fast. She will often give you very technical definitions of every theorem, sometimes with insufficient explanation so you are often left confused with a whole board of writing. There have been many times where no one in the class understood what she had just proven. However, her homework, while long and hard, is helpful with understanding the material. However, her quizzes are very fair. To study for the midterms and finals, I reviewed the quiz and hw solutions and that helped me a lot with the test. If you can understand Stephanie's lecture, you will be very knowledgeable of the material and do well.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2023 - Super easy class. The tests are really simple and the homework load is very light. I studied for pretty much the entire course content the day before the final and passed easily. Never attended a lecture. Would highly recommend the 3blue1brown video series about linear algebra because I think it teaches the concepts much better than the professor and is easier to follow than the textbook.
Winter 2023 - Super easy class. The tests are really simple and the homework load is very light. I studied for pretty much the entire course content the day before the final and passed easily. Never attended a lecture. Would highly recommend the 3blue1brown video series about linear algebra because I think it teaches the concepts much better than the professor and is easier to follow than the textbook.
Most Helpful Review
I am sad to see Dave leave. He was a great professor who inspired students to learn for the sake of furthering one's self, not to learn to get good grades and be a bitch to college/your GPA. If more professors were like him, the school would be a better place especially for south campus classes. Great man, well progressed lectures, and such a cool and awesome dude.
I am sad to see Dave leave. He was a great professor who inspired students to learn for the sake of furthering one's self, not to learn to get good grades and be a bitch to college/your GPA. If more professors were like him, the school would be a better place especially for south campus classes. Great man, well progressed lectures, and such a cool and awesome dude.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2019 - Michael Willis is a mad genius. His style of teaching is very unorthodox, so it might/might not work for everyone, but I loved it and I felt very comfortable with the material. Linear algebra isn't as easy of a subject as everyone believes because of how abstract some of the material can be, but Willis makes it work with his very casual and informal way of explaining the concepts. He makes reasonable tests and is overall a nice guy who initially comes off as a little abrasive but is actually just really eccentric and really funny. Willis made me truly interested in the material and I recommend to anyone taking this class.
Winter 2019 - Michael Willis is a mad genius. His style of teaching is very unorthodox, so it might/might not work for everyone, but I loved it and I felt very comfortable with the material. Linear algebra isn't as easy of a subject as everyone believes because of how abstract some of the material can be, but Willis makes it work with his very casual and informal way of explaining the concepts. He makes reasonable tests and is overall a nice guy who initially comes off as a little abrasive but is actually just really eccentric and really funny. Willis made me truly interested in the material and I recommend to anyone taking this class.
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9 of 10
