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> For some reason linear algebra still isn't part of standard Mechanical Engineering course load (Calc 1, 2, 3, DiffEq) Wow. In my undergrad all engineering ma

> For some reason linear algebra still isn't part of standard Mechanical Engineering course load (Calc 1, 2, 3, DiffEq) Wow. In my undergrad all engineering majors had to take linear algebra (calc 3 was optional for computer engineering).

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
tonyarkles 2y ago
I did an EE/CS dual degree and there was a really interesting difference between the linear algebra courses offered in both departments. For the EEs we were given a crash course in GE120, which all engineering students had to take. It covered how to use determinants, Gaussian elimination and matrix inversion, and those kinds of “basic” LA tools, plus some simple numerical methods stuff like Newton’s Method. In second year we had a short lab course that focused on how to use Matlab, and a circuits analysis course that pretty much forced us to learn how to represent large sets of equations in matrix form and invert them to solve all of the variables at once. Very very practical. And then in third year I had to take a 200-level linear algebra course from the Math department to satisfy the requirements for the CS degree. I chose the honours version of it and… holy moly. I thought it was going to be a gimme class but it turned out to be very theory-heavy, of which I had learned almost none in engineering. The first month kicked my ass pretty hard. Once we got out of the low-level theory (which was truly amazing to take in) and into the more advanced things that I’d been using for 2 years but didn’t know “why”, everything changed. Many of my peers were struggling to understand why you’d want to do some of this stuff and I was just super excited to finally understand why the “just turn the crank” math I’d been doing actually worked.
angry_moose 2y ago
Maybe some schools do but it's baffling to me its not a universal requirement. It'd be dramatically more useful than Calc3 for most engineers. Michigan doesn't seem to require it as the College of Engineering core classes or as part of the BSME (checked because they're who this course is through): https://me.engin.umich.edu/academics/undergrad/handbook/bachelors/#CoE-Core-Courses https://me.engin.umich.edu/academics/undergrad/handbook/bach... And my alma mater has a very similar progression.
- lupire 2y ago
  The Robotics concentration requires Linear (Matrix) Algebra. And some upper level courses have a prerequisite. But indeed it does seem a avoidable for many MechE majors. Funny thread about UM engineering students avoiding taking UM math classes. https://www.reddit.com/r/uofm/comments/15w18gv/reminder_you_do_not_have_to_take_math_at_michigan/ https://www.reddit.com/r/uofm/comments/15w18gv/reminder_you_...
- Sanzig 2y ago
  First year linear algebra is a requirement in Canada for national accreditation of any engineering program.
  - bigger_cheese 2y ago
    Linear Algebra was a first year subject for me as well. I studied Engineering in Australia.
caspper69 2y ago
This would have helped me get an actual CS degree 25 years ago instead of CS-lite (networking & server admin). It's not that I can't do calculus, I took it in high school, and then again in my first go-round in CS. It's that I hate calculus. Not the subject itself, just the grinding away at problem sets. I did a refresher in pre-calc, calc I, calc II & discrete mathematics during COVID at the local community college (was planning to finish the few credits I need for an actual CS BS) & I started calc III twice (but dropped both times). I even got a 4.0 on my first calc III exam (and this was an in-person class, so no online shenanigans). I just have some kind of weird aversion to 3 dimensional calculus. I have convinced myself that I'm simply not smart enough to actually do the work. I understand it, I just get clammy with it. Truth be told, maths are my kryptonite. Despite working with numbers all day every day for 30+ years, and writing a lot of software over the years (and not just CRUD, but games of all things), I am absolutely ashamed that I just can't seem to grok math with any rigor. I have all the Stewart textbooks on my shelf, many textbooks from libgen (ones I've seen recommended on HN from people who went to much better universities than I attended), and I even work through problems a few hours per week. I just can't seem to make that leap from a guy who's "good with numbers" (from a layperson's perspective) to a guy who's good at math. Maybe I need to break open one of my physics textbooks and actually use the calculus in an applied context and that will break whatever mental barrier I have (I've even watched all of the 3 blue 1 brown videos, countless youtube lectures, etc).
- downrightmike 2y ago
  Maybe stop torturing yourself for a bit. Sounds miserable.
  - caspper69 2y ago
    Such is life. We all have regrets, and being sloppy and indifferent with math in my youth is a big one for me. If I had done it then, I wouldn't have to try so hard now.
- liontwist 2y ago
  There are deep concepts behind multi variable cal. But if you just want to pass the course, memorizing problem shapes through practice will get you through calc 3. Do all the homework problems check the answer in the back of the book. You’ll make it.
antman 2y ago
We had the basic Linear Algebra in high school

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

tonyarkles 2y ago

I did an EE/CS dual degree and there was a really interesting difference between the linear algebra courses offered in both departments. For the EEs we were given a crash course in GE120, which all engineering students had to take. It covered how to use determinants, Gaussian elimination and matrix inversion, and those kinds of “basic” LA tools, plus some simple numerical methods stuff like Newton’s Method. In second year we had a short lab course that focused on how to use Matlab, and a circuits analysis course that pretty much forced us to learn how to represent large sets of equations in matrix form and invert them to solve all of the variables at once. Very very practical. And then in third year I had to take a 200-level linear algebra course from the Math department to satisfy the requirements for the CS degree. I chose the honours version of it and… holy moly. I thought it was going to be a gimme class but it turned out to be very theory-heavy, of which I had learned almost none in engineering. The first month kicked my ass pretty hard. Once we got out of the low-level theory (which was truly amazing to take in) and into the more advanced things that I’d been using for 2 years but didn’t know “why”, everything changed. Many of my peers were struggling to understand why you’d want to do some of this stuff and I was just super excited to finally understand why the “just turn the crank” math I’d been doing actually worked.

angry_moose 2y ago

Maybe some schools do but it's baffling to me its not a universal requirement. It'd be dramatically more useful than Calc3 for most engineers. Michigan doesn't seem to require it as the College of Engineering core classes or as part of the BSME (checked because they're who this course is through): https://me.engin.umich.edu/academics/undergrad/handbook/bachelors/#CoE-Core-Courses https://me.engin.umich.edu/academics/undergrad/handbook/bach... And my alma mater has a very similar progression.

lupire 2y ago
The Robotics concentration requires Linear (Matrix) Algebra. And some upper level courses have a prerequisite. But indeed it does seem a avoidable for many MechE majors. Funny thread about UM engineering students avoiding taking UM math classes. https://www.reddit.com/r/uofm/comments/15w18gv/reminder_you_do_not_have_to_take_math_at_michigan/ https://www.reddit.com/r/uofm/comments/15w18gv/reminder_you_...
Sanzig 2y ago
First year linear algebra is a requirement in Canada for national accreditation of any engineering program.
- bigger_cheese 2y ago
  Linear Algebra was a first year subject for me as well. I studied Engineering in Australia.

caspper69 2y ago

This would have helped me get an actual CS degree 25 years ago instead of CS-lite (networking & server admin). It's not that I can't do calculus, I took it in high school, and then again in my first go-round in CS. It's that I hate calculus. Not the subject itself, just the grinding away at problem sets. I did a refresher in pre-calc, calc I, calc II & discrete mathematics during COVID at the local community college (was planning to finish the few credits I need for an actual CS BS) & I started calc III twice (but dropped both times). I even got a 4.0 on my first calc III exam (and this was an in-person class, so no online shenanigans). I just have some kind of weird aversion to 3 dimensional calculus. I have convinced myself that I'm simply not smart enough to actually do the work. I understand it, I just get clammy with it. Truth be told, maths are my kryptonite. Despite working with numbers all day every day for 30+ years, and writing a lot of software over the years (and not just CRUD, but games of all things), I am absolutely ashamed that I just can't seem to grok math with any rigor. I have all the Stewart textbooks on my shelf, many textbooks from libgen (ones I've seen recommended on HN from people who went to much better universities than I attended), and I even work through problems a few hours per week. I just can't seem to make that leap from a guy who's "good with numbers" (from a layperson's perspective) to a guy who's good at math. Maybe I need to break open one of my physics textbooks and actually use the calculus in an applied context and that will break whatever mental barrier I have (I've even watched all of the 3 blue 1 brown videos, countless youtube lectures, etc).

downrightmike 2y ago
Maybe stop torturing yourself for a bit. Sounds miserable.
- caspper69 2y ago
  Such is life. We all have regrets, and being sloppy and indifferent with math in my youth is a big one for me. If I had done it then, I wouldn't have to try so hard now.
liontwist 2y ago
There are deep concepts behind multi variable cal. But if you just want to pass the course, memorizing problem shapes through practice will get you through calc 3. Do all the homework problems check the answer in the back of the book. You’ll make it.

antman 2y ago

We had the basic Linear Algebra in high school