The content of 18.01 was a necessary prerequisite.
Some recommended learning some basics of linear algebra before this course, but this is unnecessary.
Subject Matter
Students described 18.02 as foundational and applied.
Some disliked the inclusion of linear algebra in the course content.
Course Staff
TAs were very helpful and thoroughly explained concepts or questions students had.
Students expressed discomfort in asking the professor questions.
Lectures
Most students believed that they learned from solving psets and going to lectures or reading the lecture notes.
Some students found the lectures to be fast-paced, but would look at notes before or after class to understand the material better.
A few students also mentioned office hours being helpful for asking questions.
Problem Sets
Students found the psets of mixed difficulty.
Students felt the problems required some creative thinking and were easier when collaborating with others.
Students spent 3-5 hours a week on the psets.
Exams
The exams were of mixed difficulty, as one was described as a time crunch, and another described as easier.
Students felt the lectures and practice exams prepared them for each exam.
Resources
Many used the lecture notes and lecture recordings.
Prof. Hahn referred students to another classmate’s unofficial notes about halfway through the course.
There was not a course textbook.
Grading
Students felt that grading was fair.
Advice to Future Students
“Attend lecture! Even if you’ve taken a high school multi class, chances are there’s something in here that you haven’t learned before, or a better/different way to think about a problem, even if it just comes down to notation.”
“Put in the extra work (recitation, listening in lecture) to understand why the theorems and equations work, and memorize all the equations.”