13.2: Why Linear Algebra Matters

Linear algebra is the branch of mathematics that works with vectors, matrices, and systems of linear equations. In MATLAB, linear algebra is especially important because MATLAB was originally designed around matrix computations. In fact, the name MATLAB comes from matrix laboratory.

If you are studying engineering, physics, robotics, computer graphics, circuit analysis, statics, data science, or numerical methods, you will see linear algebra again and again. For example:

· A velocity vector can describe how fast an object is moving and in what direction.

· A matrix can store the coefficients of several equations at once.

· A transformation matrix can rotate, scale, or move points in space.

· A system of equations can describe currents in a circuit, forces in a truss, or flow rates in a network.

· A data table can be represented as a matrix so MATLAB can process many values efficiently.

In this chapter, we will focus on the linear algebra skills that are most useful for beginning MATLAB programmers: vectors, matrices, and solving linear systems.

---