Online Elementary Linear Algebra Course - Distance Calculus

What is the difference between "Linear Algebra" and "Elementary Linear Algebra"?

When you see the term "Elementary" in the title, they are specifically talking about the sophomore-level Linear Algebra course commonly taken after Calculus II.

There are more advanced Linear Algebra courses available, usually taken by math and computer science students, which are sometimes called Advanced Linear Algebra, or Computational Linear Algebra. These are courses that jump into the math theory of Linear Algebra, and usuall require a student have had a course in group theory or abstract algebra.

Most students looking for a Linear Algebra course are looing for "Elementary Linear Algebra".

What is the difference in a taking a textbook/lecture based course on linear algebra vs Distance Calculus Linear Algebra?

There are huge differences between our Linear Algebra course, which is Mathematica-based, and a traditional textbook/lecture course.

Our Mathematica-based course is highly experimentation-based - running experiments graphically, numerically, algebraically, to get at the concepts of linear algebra as you would in a chemistry or physics lab.

Traditional Linear Algebra courses usually center on doing small calculations you can do by hand, and then concentrating on abstract concepts of linear algebra, avoiding difficult calculations in favor of ... sometimes proofs, sometimes just calculations that can be completed by humans on paper.

Our Distance Calculus Linear Algebra course is perfect for students who might be interested in a "Computational Linear Algebra" course, although that course title is usually reserved for courses where the students are actually trying to learn how to program software like Mathematica or manual programs to do the computations. Those courses are more about numerical analysis, as they assume you already completed an Elementary Linear Algebra course before.

Here is a video about our Linear Algebra course via Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University:

Linear Algebra Course

Multivariable Calculus & High School

After AP Calculus for High School Students

Linear Algebra course can best be described as a "first course in the study of Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory".

This course has many names, all being equivalent:

Linear Algebra
Matrix Theory
Linear Systems of Equations
Linear Spaces

Our Linear Algebra course differs from a classroom/textbook-based course in that we employ Mastery Learning so that you complete all assignments at 100% to assure competancy, as well as our curriculum shifting the course to a laboratory-style course, where theorem/lemma/proof type exposition is replaced by running experiments in Mathematica as you would in a science laboratory to empirically deduce the concepts and behaviors of Linear Algebra, both solvable (classically) via hand-based techiques, as well as studying Linear Algebra that can only be solved and investigated graphically and numerically using a computer. The Linear Algebra curriculum is highly visual and based upon observations of experiments run in Mathematica.

At Distance Calculus, we call our "Linear Algebra" course as Linear Algebra - DMAT 335 - 3 credits.

Below are some links for further information about the Linear Algebra course via Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University.

Distance Calculus - Student Reviews

Brian Finley★★★★★

Posted: Jan 12, 2020

Courses Completed: Calculus II

I took Calculus II through Distance Calculus and can't recommend it enough. Being able to take the course at my own pace while I was working full time was tremendously helpful, especially since I hadn't taken a math course for 5 years prior. The instruction was excellent and the software they used to teach the course was intuitive and facilitated the learning process very well. This calc II class enabled me to take multivariable calc, linear algebra, and real analysis at Harvard University's extension school, which ultimately qualified me for the economics PhD program that I will graduate from next year. 8 years on, I'm still grateful to Professor Curtis and Distance Calculus.

Samuel H.★★★★☆

Posted: Jun 2, 2021

Courses Completed: Linear Algebra

Nothing but praise for Dr. Curtis. He's an excellent professor who is very responsive and knowledgeable. I did this course at night while working full-time, and I often skyped him late in the evening with questions. He never took long to respond, regardless of when it was. I finished this course in about a month and a half, and I worked for it. For those looking for an easy A, this is not it. You will have to put in serious work, but you will come out of the course with a good understanding of the material, especially if you apply yourself throughout the entirety of the course.

Email: samuel.howell@g.fmarion.edu

Transferred Credits To: Francis Marion University

Harlan E.★★★★★

Posted: Apr 29, 2020

Courses Completed: Calculus I, Calculus II

I did not do well in AP Calculus during my senior year in high school. Instead of trying to cram for the AP exam, I decided to jump ship and go to Distance Calculus to complete Calculus I. This was awesome! I finished Calculus I in about 6 weeks, and then I kept going into Calculus II. I started as a freshman at UCLA with both Calculus I and II done!

Transferred Credits To: University of California, Los Angeles

Henry F.★★★★★

Posted: Dec 18, 2025

Courses Completed: Differential Equations

Transferred Credits To: Saint Joseph High School

John ★★★★★

Posted: Nov 20, 2025

Courses Completed: Precalculus, Applied Calculus

Great course. Professor Curtis and the TAs graded quickly and gave really helpful feedback that made the class feel smooth and manageable. Definitely recommend it.

Transferred Credits To: Binghamton University (School of Managment)

Trevor★★★★★

Posted: Jun 19, 2025

Courses Completed: Calculus I

POSITIVES:
One of the best math classes I have ever taken. The lessons made the failures of my previous professors very apparent. In a few short minutes, things that I used to struggle with just clicked. This professor is top notch and really wants you to understand how to use the material.
NEGATIVES:
The SOFTWARE is extremely frustrating. Even after taking the time to learn, there are countless glitches. You learn to work around them, and overall, the software makes the math convenient, but its failures are sorely felt throughout the course. Make sure you save often as it crashes regularly, especially with graphs.
The assignments are easy enough but some of them don't line up with the taught material. Be prepared to do some of your own independent research to get a deeper understanding of why things are the way they are.

Transferred Credits To: US Army