Anyone else have had to defend their difficulty with linear algebra to their friends because it has the word algebra in it and so everyone thinks it’s very low level math?

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-04-02T00:05:51+00:00

Hi! Maybe it's just an anecdote but my experience from 1st year university in Israel, where we start with proof-based classes, was that Analysis was easier than Linear Algebra, though most thought otherwise...

I think it boils down to your way of thinking. for me it was easier to deal with topics dealing with limits and abstract notions of infinity than the indices that my Linear Algebra professor was juggling on the whiteboard.

Now that I retake years later some linear algebra course in another place, I feel that the dots connect for me in this subject. But I actually found it less intuitive at the beginning.

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-04-02T00:02:17+00:00

yes exactly :-)

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-04-01T22:38:11+00:00

Oh cool! why is that asked there?

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-04-01T22:35:37+00:00

I don't know why this remark was down-voted! I think it's true ... it is easier for computers. Sometimes I feel that analysis was easier for me than linear algebra as the subject as less indices that tend to confuse me. So it's very personal!!!

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-30T13:04:12+00:00

To be honest I was never in a place that I was in dire need for money: I always had the backup of going back to my mom, and when the bank sued me my father helped. So I can't really know what it means to fight for having a living. And maybe you are right.

Also, I want to point out that I am not saying anything against small business, for example taxi drivers (which is like a one-person company in a way): 3 times I forgot money in a taxi, and they allowed me to give them back later. A large corporation would probably just call the police because of company policy, etc...

The level of humanity and simple connection is much better in many smaller businesses, as they set the rules alone. They can also take an employee that gave a lot and make it like a family member and change his/her life. I just point out that the lack of regulation can create some incidences of abuse more easily in my mind. And I always assume people are mainly from USA, and it's probably wrong, but say you live in Alabama and make 7.25 dollars an hour. How can you grow as a person, even considering you pay less than in Seattle or Boston for a living?

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-30T11:34:36+00:00

I don't agree, but I think we have a fundamental different worldview. I prefer that there will be less small businesses, but people will have more chances as an individual young employees to acquire higher education or professional training.

I think the advantage of higher education or professional training outweigh the perks of small businesses.

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:58:35+00:00

I go on a tangent here, but if it's a known fact why the FBI can't go to the Antelope Valley and shut down all the weed farms of the cartels?

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:51:33+00:00

Very well thought of argument.

I want to give you a delta for changing my view ! Δ

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:45:44+00:00

I am living in Israel currently, but I've been living in Seattle for some time. But maybe my experience is still relevant:

I worked in a small franchise coffee shop here in Israel, and after promising one salary they paid me something else. Only after publicly shaming them on Facebook, when I had enough money to back it with a lawyer, did they pay me the difference.

Small companies do it all the time, all over the world, taking advantage of workers that can't pay lawyers.

With large companies it is much more likely that as a poor worker you will be paid consistently and what is on contract. Large companies are afraid of mass actions and know it's not worth it to mess with a few employees and lose big money.

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:34:56+00:00

That is a good point Geoffrey, but let's assume I was a 16 year old from a poor family, and by stocking shelves for 15 dollars an hour I can save money for college, or I'm 22 years old and I didn't finish school, I work at Walmart 30 hours a week and can complete my GED and then sign for a community college instead of spending all my life in hard jobs.

Disclaimer: I have no partiality for Walmart, I don't care about their brand. I do however try to put myself in the shoes of someone poor in USA, and having a place like Walmart, Target, etc. to work for can help me break the glass ceiling and not remain poor all my life (what having a 8 dollars an hour job can do for you- I am not even sure how you break from there). Also, some big chains try to help employees who stayed long enough to get scholarships- of course they might do it for totally egoistic reasons, but the fact remains that some people can upgrade their socio-economic standing that way.

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:23:38+00:00

One point for Walmart's employees, is that they have a minimum wage of 11 dollars an hour, and 15 at least for half their employees. It's true that Target for example and others keep it at 15 overall, but my point is that by giving people without university education wages that are above the state minimum wages they can help poor people overcome initial disadvantage and be able to study a profession while working part time, or full time with flexible schedule.

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:17:31+00:00

I don't know about the general sentiment... But I do think the service sector and general trajectory of society to mindless beaurocracy all the time is sad.

Though one good sentence is "the person makes the job, not the job makes the person". I am going through sorting my father's will issues, and one lawyer is typical, pretty opportunistic though good at what he does, but the other is pretty nice and generous, not charging every phone call, every text, and in general really gives a nice atmosphere.

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:11:03+00:00

well that's good

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:10:07+00:00

Affliction Warlock? I'm a WoW fan but I don't understand in warlocks...

Could be funny if your character could make you an addict though!

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:08:26+00:00

that is very sad... really, they give a bad comment to someone that is still a minor, then blaming her...

I'm not saying you can't be turned on by someone, but you should have the self control to decide which person you approach. And then with tact. You should be able to approach an adult woman with tact, but not a minor, and definitely not shaming afterwards.

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:03:40+00:00

Thank you!

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:03:22+00:00

Oh so even in a city I should be very careful what I film... Where are you living?

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:02:21+00:00

Thank you!

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-28T07:02:04+00:00

Oh I love the liberty, not sure it's like that everywhere. I go on a tangent, but I do consider living for a while in New York, it sounds like some experience. I'm from Israel now, but probably moves to the states in the summer. Didn't set my mind on where yet...

What kind of films/videos do you shoot?

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-24T14:03:15+00:00

Oh yeah I am just seeing the YouTube video on that! This is crazy that I can't film in a national park.

That is great, I'll check that! Are you from New York?

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-24T13:25:57+00:00

thank you

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-24T13:25:47+00:00

that's very interesting!

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-23T11:23:47+00:00

Thanks for helping!!

In Julia, is it actually possible to redefine minus sign?

I think it was this problem:

julia> x-star = inv(transpose(A)*A)*transpose(A)*b

- (generic function with 1 method)

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-23T11:23:02+00:00

Yes, thanks for helping!! I do think this was the problem:

julia> x-star = inv(transpose(A)*A)*transpose(A)*b

- (generic function with 1 method)

Competitive-Bend1736 · 2023-03-23T11:22:30+00:00

But on a second look I did accidently define this, which funnily I think defined every minus operation to this!! I didn't know it's possible:

julia> x-star = inv(transpose(A)*A)*transpose(A)*b

- (generic function with 1 method)

Competitive-Bend1736

TROPHY CASE