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Yep. Even just linear algebra. I’m trying to get into graphics programming and it’s very difficult without a solid understanding of that stuff.


I would actually start with a first pass at elementary linear algebra, before taking a serious crack at even single variable Calculus. Then let the key ideas marinate in your brain; develop some facility and intuition / insight.

Multivariable Calculus hardly makes any sense without a basic amount of linear algebra. It’s a bit of a historical accident that (Western) mathematics developed Calculus extensively prior to linear algebra taking shape as a significant subject. Don’t try to tackle Multivariable Calculus with a decent grip on matrices. Maybe do some computer graphics and learn how to build 2D & 3D shapes and animate them using matrices.


“Just” linear alg, LOL. I made it through calculus 2/3 in high school but linear algebra gives me fits, especially since I only ever learned it in a data science context. Linear algebra is freakin’ tough!


You need this book: Practical Linear Algebra: A Geometry Toolbox by Gerald Farin and Dianne Hansford. You can get older editions for pennies. The 1st edition was actually called The Geometry Toolbox for Graphics and Modeling.

You should also read Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares by Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe: https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls/


I should also add the famous 3Blue1Brown's videos on the "Essence of Linear Algebra" - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZHQObOWTQDPD3MizzM2x...


It's easy, just work through a book and do practice problems.

The difficult part isn't the math, it's just finding time to do it.




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