MOOC on Introduction to Matrix Algebra released

Introduction to Matrix Algebra is available as a MOOC now on Udemy. Of course, it is free! https://www.udemy.com/matrixalgebra/.  You will have a lifetime access to 177 lectures, 14+ hours of high quality content, 10 textbook chapters complete with multiple choice questions and their complete solutions.

Learning Objectives are

  • know vectors and their linear combinations and dot products
  • know why we need matrix algebra and differentiate between various special matrices
  • carry unary operations on matrices
  • carry binary operations on matrices
  • differentiate between inconsistent and consistent system of linear equations via finding rank of matrices
  • differentiate between system of equations that have unique and infinite solutions
  • use Gaussian elimination methods to find solution to a system of equations
  • use LU decomposition to find solution to system of equations and know when to choose the method over Gaussain elimination
  • use Gauss-Seidel method to solve a system of equations iteratively
  • find quantitatively how adequate your solution is through the concept of condition numbers
  • find eigenvectors and eigenvalues of a square matrix

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A Floating Point Question Revisited

QUESTION: A machine stores floating point numbers in 7-bit word. The first bit is stored for the sign of the number, the next three for the biased exponent and the next three for the magnitude of the mantissa. You are asked to represent 33.35 in the above word. The error you will get in this case would be
(A) underflow
(B) overflow
(C) NaN
(D) No error will be registered

The solution to problem is given here.

However a student asked me a follow up question, and here is the answer.

QUESTION: I was doing the multiple choice question and I am having trouble understanding it. I looked at the solution but I am having trouble still. I began by turning 33.35 into binary and i get 100001.01011. I just am having trouble putting it into the format. The max exponent value is 4 in this case but in the solutions it says you need 5. Maybe I do not understand what underflow and over flow is exactly.

ANSWER: The solution is given as you have pointed out.

The binary number in fixed format needs to be converted to floating point format. That would be 100001.01011=1.0000101011*2^5 as you move the radix point by 5 places to the left.  We move that 5 places as it gives us only one non-zero digit now to the left of the radix point.  This is no different from the procedure you use for converting a decimal format to scientific format for base-10 numbers.

Now all floating point formats have an upper limit of number it can represent.  Since the biased exponent has 3 bits, the biased exponent that can be represented is from 0 to 7, which means the unbiased exponent that can be represented is from -3 to 4 (biasing by +3, and unbiasing by -3).  But since we need to represent an unbiased exponent of 5, it cannot be done.  The maximum unbiased exponent that can be represented is 4.  So the number is larger than the one that can be represented.  If you put 32 ounces of water in a 24-ounce cup, we say that the water overflowed.  In this case, the number will overflow as it is more than it can handle.

You can see this in a different way as follows (looking at a solution a different way; that always helps the brain and your long-term memory).

The maximum number you can represent in binary for the given 7-bit word is 0111111 and that translates to (1.111)2*2^(111)2 which in base 10 is equivalent to (1.875)*2^(7-3)=30 (the 3 is used for unbiasing the exponent).  Hence, 33.35 would overflow, just like when you put  32 ounces of water in a 24-ounce cup.

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Patriots football deflation given as a lesson learned and as an exercise in Numerical Methods

Deflate Gate is a great lesson in not jumping to conclusions.  Physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson did not change gauge pressure to absolute pressure; Bill Nye, a mechanical engineer, who calls himself the science guy, did not give convincing arguments; others did not change temperature to absolute temperature; other variables like water vapor pressure, and temperature of compressed air (compressed air is hot) to inflate balls, and time interval between when balls were inflated to when balls were taken to field were not accounted for.

Deflated Football
Deflated Football (Courtesy: http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/01/23/nfl-deflate-gate-statement-full-text-of-nfls-statement-on-deflategate-investigation/)

Two exercises were given to students: http://nm.MathForCollege.com/experiments/deflategate.pdf

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An example of Gaussian quadrature rule by using two approaches

Here is an example of using Gaussian quadrature rule through two approaches:

EITHER

by applying it on the original integrand by updating the argument of the integrand

OR

by applying it to the equivalent integrand because of the need to change the limits of integration to: -1 to 1.

http://nm.MathForCollege.com/blog/3pointquadruleexample.pdf

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Open course ware for Matrix Algebra Released

The open course ware for “Introduction to Matrix Algebra” has been released.   The topics include

 

  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: Vectors
  • Chapter 3: Binary Matrix Operations
  • Chapter 4: Unary Matrix Operations
  • Chapter 5: System of Equations
  • Chapter 6: Gaussian Elimination Method
  • Chapter 7: LU Decomposition
  • Chapter 8: Gauss-Seidel Method
  • Chapter 9: Adequacy of Solutions
  • Chapter 10: Eigenvalues and Eigenvector

For more details go to http://tap.usf.edu/stories/open-courseware-released-for-introduction-to-matrix-algebra/

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Friday October 31, 2014, 11:59PM EDT, November 1, 2014 3:59AM GMT – Release Date for an Opencourseware in Introduction to Matrix Algebra

In a true Netflix style, on Halloween night, Friday October 31, 2014 at 11:59PM EST, we are releasing all resources simultaneously for an open courseware on Introduction to Matrix Algebra athttp://mathforcollege.com/ma/.  The courseware will include

  • 150 YouTube video lectures of total length of approximately 14 hours,
  • 10 textbook chapters,
  • 10 online multiple-choice quizzes with complete solutions,
  • 10 problem sets, and
  • PowerPoint presentations.

So set your calendar for October 31 for some matrix algebra binging rather than candy binging.  For more info and questions, contact Autar Kaw.

Chapter 1: Introduction 

Chapter 2: Vectors

Chapter 3: Binary Matrix Operations

Chapter 4: Unary Matrix Operations

Chapter 5: System of Equations

Chapter 6: Gaussian Elimination Method  

Chapter 7: LU Decomposition

Chapter 8: Gauss-Seidel Method

Chapter 9: Adequacy of Solutions

Chapter 10: Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

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Machine epsilon – Question 5 of 5

In the previous blog posts, we answered

Here we answer the last question.

Repeated roots in ordinary differential equation – next independent solution – where does that come from?

When solving a fixed-constant linear ordinary differential equation where the characteristic equation has repeated roots, why do we get the next independent solution in the form of x^n*e^(m*x)?  Show this through an example.

See this pdf file for the answer.

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Machine Epsilon – Question 4 of 5

In the previous blog posts, we answered

Here we answer the next question.

Future post will answer this last question
Question 5 of 5: What is the proof that the absolute relative true error in representing a number on a machine is always less than the machine epsilon?

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