On: Proposal: Linear Algebra Study Group

[tptacek]

Chapter ever two weeks plus exercises sounds simple, doable, reasonable. Let's do it that way.

Once we feel like we've picked our book, let's decide on a date to start; 2 weeks from that date, one of us will just post a "STUDY HN:" post for the first chapter.

We can figure out the formalities, like, what do those threads look like, once we get started. :)

[micrypt → tptacek]

I'm in. How do we coordinate? http://convore.com perhaps?

[tptacek → micrypt]

I seriously think we could just do it on HN threads...

There are feature-y-er places to do it, but this place actually works.

[gruseom → tptacek]

I agree. I'm superstitious about origins. When something spontaneously happens at location X it's good to let it continue to evolve there. I say we stay where the party started. We can post occasionally and nobody who's uninterested need look at it. I also confess to tasting sweet irony in the idea of turning HN to more productive use. I feel like I've finally got my enemy in a corner. (The internet has never stopped me from working, but man has it stopped me from learning. But I digress.)

As for what book: "Linear Algebra and its Applications" by Strang does sound like a good fit for hackers. I was convinced by this review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R289C7K1TN2RO2/ref=cm_cr_pr_per.... Some cheaper copies are available on Abebooks.

There's a case to be made for the other Strang, but again - origins are magic, so unless there's a compelling negative I say we stick with tptacek's original inspiration.

[akkartik → gruseom]

How many times have I seen an ad hoc thread that people would just hit reply-all to converted into a mailing list. Instant community killer.

[whittle → gruseom]

All of that sounds good—count me in.

Should we wait a week before starting so people can get their hands on the text?

[dimitry12 → gruseom]

I'm in. Got the 3rd ed. while waiting for the shipment of the 4th (possibly long wait). Let me know if you're in a similar situation.

[marshray → tptacek]

So do we post our answers and get downvoted if wrong? (and sometimes anyway)

It's hard to beat an elegant site like this that we're already registered for, but I'm having trouble visualizing matrices in this markup.

  [ 1 0 0 ]
  [ 0 1 0 ]
  [ 0 0 1 ]

OK, worth a shot.

[silentbicycle → marshray]

It may be good to hide solutions behind a pastebin link, rather than directly including them in a comment & spoiling things.

[tptacek → marshray]

I'd think we'd mostly be saying "I liked this" or "I didn't understand that", not so much quizzing. But I don't know, never done this before.

Can always link pictures to threads if ASCII gets too hard.

[whittle → tptacek]

As long as we don’t need to use MathML. I can’t spare an hour and a half to construct each post.

[esrauch → tptacek]

I think old threads get locked (can't post new comments) relatively quickly on HN which would make it tough, it would involve making new posts and expecting everyone to find the new one. (Feel free to correct me on the locking thing)

[tptacek → esrauch]

Once in a blue moon I go back and find hanging replies to my comments, so I'm pretty sure these things stay alive for weeks, which is as long as we'd need them to.

[micrypt → tptacek]

Works for me. Book acquired.

[jcarden → micrypt]

Convore wouldn't be a bad idea for coordination and meeting. How about it ?