Math 2890-001
Spring 2018
Linear Algebra Software
The homework problems can be done by hand, or using a calculator (handheld or online), or using a computer software program such as MATLAB, Scilab, Maple or Sage.
There are also data files for all of the recommended homework. These data files are available in a variety of formats (MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, TI-8*) and they will relieve you of the tedium of entering the problems into your calculator or computer by hand.
MATLAB is the software most widely used for Numerical Linear Algebra. It has a large user base and is easy to use; however, it is expensive. Fortunately there are a number of free (and open source) MATLAB clones available online that should make working from home convenient. Here are two:
If you're using Windows or a Mac, I recommend FreeMat. If you're using Linux, I recommend Octave. Either of these should work with the MATLAB data files provided by Lay.If you want to learn more about MATLAB, one place to start is at the mathworks site. This is probably overkill, but feel free to poke around.
As we go along we'll encounter problems that will be difficult (or impossible) to do by hand, so I recommend that you become familiar with some technological option as soon as possible.
On the other hand, you'll be forced to do things by hand on the exams, so you'll need to understand what's going on under the hood.
If you want more practice than the recommended and assigned problems provide, here are some online problems that should give you a picture of the kinds of things I'm likely to ask on the exams.
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