DVD/Study Aid Review: The Matrix Algebra Tutor: Linear Algebra

 

The title on Amazon tying this to Linear Algebra is a bit misleading. The cover of the DVD set saying it is a Matrix Algebra tutor is far more accurate. This material is what college students are often taught during a College Algebra class, usually about halfway to two-thirds of the way through the semester. It is the material that is often reviewed during the first couple of class sessions of a linear algebra course (which is often taken after calculus and in some schools in a class that combines linear algebra and differential equations into a single class) but is what students are mostly expected to already know by the time they get to that class.

This course introduces the concepts of Matrices, discusses adding and subtracting matrices, and then the various techniques used to "solve" the matrices, which are used throughout the higher-level science and engineering classes to solve systems of equations. It also discusses calculating the inverse of a Matrix and determinants of a Matrix, each of which is used over and over in engineering classes (at least in electrical engineering classes) when solving problems. So, getting a good handle on this material is critical if you plan on taking higher-level classes.

Jason teaches this material in the same style as his other tutor sets. He provides enough of the "explanatory" material that you need to understand the concept, and then goes through several problems, step-by-step, and explains each step of the process in detail. It is, however, just Jason standing in front of a whiteboard working out problems. It is not exciting or flashy, and obviously, you cannot interact with Jason during the lessons. So, you have to figure out if this fits your learning style. If you are a visual learner, then Jasson's material is some of the best out there.