Vectors | Chapter 1, Essence of linear algebra
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN's go-to recommendation for learning linear algebra intuition, repeatedly credited with making concepts click and complementing textbooks.
What it is
The first chapter of 3Blue1Brown's Essence of Linear Algebra series, introducing vectors with animated geometric visuals. It begins a series that builds intuition for linear algebra from the basics.
Recommended by 17 HN commenters across 18 different months, 2018 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec nicebill8 · 2018-12 · on “Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra: Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares”
The 3B1B series on Linear Algebra is by far the most welcoming and informative introduction to the topic I've ever seen: [this video]
Strong rec PinkMilkshake · 2019-01 · on “How to Start Learning Computer Graphics Programming”
3Blue1Brown has a great series on Linear Algebra. His explanations are so clear that by the 2nd or 3rd video you'll already understand how it applies to computer graphics. [this video]
Strong rec aidos · 2019-02 · on “Immersive Linear Algebra (2016)”
3Blue1Brown's Essence of linear algebra series is the go to place for learning this material. I've included the link to the series below so people don't get lost in all his other wonderful videos along the way. [this video]
Strong rec daeken · 2019-03 · on “An Intuitive Derivation of Eigenvectors”
If you want to get an intuitive, visual understanding of linear algebra -- including eigenvectors/eigenvalues -- 3blue1brown's playlist on the subject is just ... perfect. [this video]
Strong rec vecter · 2020-02 · on “An Intuitive Guide to Linear Algebra (2012)”
This is ok but nothing is as intuitive as 3B1B's series on YouTube that has been posted hundreds of times on HN [0]. Linear algebra is really about linear transformations of vector spaces, which is not captured in this blog post. [0] [this video]
Strong rec dr_zoidberg · 2020-10 · on “A Programmer’s Intuition for Matrix Multiplication”
I strongly recommend 3blue1brown's intro to linear algebra[0] for quick intuitions, followed by Gilbert Strangs MIT Open Course[1][2] for (much) deeper detail. Strang is a genius, but Sanderson's graphics and intuitions can be helpful early on. [0] [this video] [1] [LINK] [2] [LINK]
Strong rec truly · 2021-11 · on “SoME1 results”
For anyone wondering what 3Blue1Brown is, it's a top Youtube channel with very nicely made explanatory videos for math. The videos on linear algebra in particular are worth it, especially if you do any sort of machine learning: [this video] . The author of the channel is Grant Sanderson. He has recently given a talk at SIGGRAPH 2021: [LINK] . As part of developing his Youtube channel, he has written and open-sourced manim, a library for programatically generating animations written in Python: [LINK] .
Strong rec laplacesdemon48 · 2022-04 · on “An Intuitive Guide to Linear Algebra”
Here's another vote for 3Blue1Brown's series on linear algebra [1]. Spending a few hours on this series will easily save you dozens of hours when going through a comprehensive LA textbook. [1] [this video]