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

Mark Neiberg ★★★★★

Posted: Jan 12, 2020

Courses Completed: Calculus I, Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus

Curriculum was high quality and allowed student to experiment with concepts which resulted in an enjoyable experience. Assignment Feedback was timely and meaningful.

Douglas Z.★★★★★

Posted: Jun 6, 2020

Courses Completed: Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory

I loved these courses. So in depth and comprehensive. The mix of software and math curriculum was tremendously helpful to my future studies and career in engineering. I highly recommend these courses if you are bored of textbook courses.

Transferred Credits To: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Genevieve P.★★★★★

Posted: Sep 20, 2020

Courses Completed: Applied Calculus

I found out from my grad school after being accepted that I needed a Calculus course before starting their MBA program. I had less than 6 weeks to do it (and as a non-STEM undergrad no less). The video lectures were informative, the pre-calc refresher was great to get re-conditioned, and the asynchronous format worked so well as I did this at night/weekends after work. I completed it in 4 weeks. Professor Curtis was extremely responsive, graded assignments quickly, and a supportive guide providing constructive feedback to me to excel at the assignments. I highly recommend this course for those who need a pre-req in a hurry or like learning on their own schedule. Thanks, Distance Calculus and Professor Curtis!

Transferred Credits To: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

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

Taylor C.★★★★★

Posted: May 27, 2025

Courses Completed: Multivariable Calculus

Im a visual learner and had a difficult time understanding multivariable calculus my first go around, and found this course offered by Roger Williams University, which uses real-time 3d graphing of the equations. I would see my work be manipulating the models, which gave a robust understanding of what each variable did. absolutely loved the course and class recordings.

Transferred Credits To: Califorina Baptist University