>getting the solid linear-algebra background Oh! What an omission I made. A solid linear algebra background is a must for absolutely everything. There's noth

>getting the solid linear-algebra background Oh! What an omission I made. A solid linear algebra background is a must for absolutely everything. There's nothing one can do without it. Not Calculus in several variables, not geometry, not group theory, etc. I sort of assumed that people with diff. eq. under their belt know linear algebra well, but it's often not the case. I can strongly recommend the following two texts for the subject: -Sheldon Axler: Linear Algebra Done Right -Serge Treil: Linear Algebra Done Wrong