2021-02-09 meeting notes

Welcome to the class!

We spent the first 25 minutes or so walking through course logistics and the topics covered in the course. We then turned to a discussion of different linear algebraic objects represented by matrices (linear maps, operators, bilinear and sesquilinear forms, quadratic forms), and the associated canonical forms. The discussion was mostly mathematical, though with a few notes on how these concepts arise in data science applications.

The first lecture involved more logistics than normal. Future lectures will generally involve a five-minute icebreaker / quiz / warm-up at the beginning and 15-20 minutes of group work at the end.