Linear Algebra with Spreadsheets: Vectors, Matrices & Systems of Equations
Dot products and angles, matrix arithmetic, MMULT, transpose and identity, determinants, solving A x = b with MINVERSE, Markov chains and least squares via the normal equations: 8 graded labs on business and engineering data.
The first lesson is free — no account needed.
About this course
A linear algebra course that does vectors and matrices with spreadsheet functions on business and engineering data, starting with one fictional furniture maker, for students of linear algebra, business math and data science, engineers and analysts who want to see what MMULT does. You treat prices and sales as vectors and calculate revenue as a dot product, vector lengths and the angle between product mixes, add, subtract and scale matrices, multiply a stores × products matrix by prices and costs with MMULT, transpose a bill of materials and check the identity matrix, compute 2×2 and 3×3 determinants with MDETERM and spot a singular matrix, solve a production plan A x = b with MINVERSE and MMULT, push a bike fleet through a Markov transition matrix to its steady state and fit a cost model with the normal equations and match it with LINEST. The first lab is free.
Lessons
- Vectors: Dot Product, Length & the Angle Between Two MixesFree
- Matrices: Addition, Subtraction & Scalar Multiplication Pro
- Matrix Multiplication: Units × Prices with MMULT Pro
- Transpose & Identity: Bills of Materials in Both Directions Pro
- Determinants & Invertibility: MDETERM and MINVERSE Pro
- Solving Linear Systems: x = A⁻¹ b for a Production Plan Pro
- Markov Chains: Transition Matrices, Powers & the Steady State (with a Chart) Pro
- Least Squares in Matrix Form: (XᵀX)⁻¹Xᵀy vs LINEST Pro