uwloo

CS 475Computational Linear Algebra

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Computer Science

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Basic concepts and implementation of numerical linear algebra techniques and their use in solving application problems. Special methods for solving linear systems having special features. Direct methods: symmetric, positive definite, band, general sparse structures, ordering methods. Iterative methods: Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel, SOR, conjugate gradient. Computing and using orthogonal factorizations of matrices. QR and SVD methods for solving least squares problems. Eigenvalue and singular value decompositions. Computation and uses of these decompositions in practice.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • AMATH242 - Introduction to Computational Mathematics (0.50)
    • CS370 - Numerical Computation (0.50)
    • CS371 - Introduction to Computational Mathematics (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

68% liked it63% easy72% useful

From 19 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Armin is an excellent professor, and this course is so good in large part due to him. However, I also found the content itself really interesting and applicable to large parts of my research interests. The first half of this course is fairly straightforward, but the second half gets more difficult. The final (imo) was quite tough but there was clearly a huge curve/boost applied so ultimately it didn't matter too much. Highly recommend!

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Armin the best prof for cs475. He made the course very engaging and explain the concepts very well and easily understandable. The final is pretty hard for me but I guess he definitely curved a lot. The course itself has 4 assignments worth 20% (for undergrad) 35 % midterm and 45 % final. Course concept is interesting though. Definitely taking this course with Armin.

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Basically a course on the nuances of matrix operations, applied to creating practical algorithms for linear algebra. The main skill was just general fluency in linear algebra 1 material, making the course easy if you have fully *mastered* it. Such practice was very useful for refining these skills.

    Jul 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Pretty light for a 4th year CS course. Assignments every 3ish weeks were average and midterm was easy. The final was long and a little proof heavy (this is a mostly computational course) but the prof (Armin Jamshidpey) asked who thought it was too long and said he'll adjust it for next term. This course was overall enjoyable mostly because of how great Armin is. He is top 3 best CS profs at UW, if not number 1. If you have Armin, you should definitely attend lectures.

    Aug 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Honestly not too bad of a course, the assignments - especially the matlab questions on them - are pretty time consuming but not as difficult as I feared. There's only 4 of them, which was nice. Midterm was very fair, we weren't given much info on how to prepare for it but it wasn't too bad. Final exam was absolutely horrendous, though. 24 pages long, way too many questions... nothing could've prepared me for it. I left maybe 1/3 of it blank. It crushed my soul. But overall this course honestly wasn't that bad.

    Jul 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

127 posts and comments in 108 threads mention CS 475, December 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Lin alg heavy courses 13 points, 10 comments

u/U09IUA: “I love math235 and I'm sad that there's no Lin Alg 3. What are some courses that use a lot of Lin alg? Would CS484 or CS480 fit this? CS475 isn't available next term, and I've already taken CS370”

u/Osteospermum: “CS 370/371 and 475 cover numerical linear algebra if you liked computation and matrix decompositions and the sort. PMATH 347 and 348 cover abstract algebra if you liked the theorems and vector spaces. …”

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CS Minor Possible? (Math) 18 points, 12 comments

“I’m entering my 2A term for Math and want to pursue a Stats major and continue seeing CS minor as an option on the Math Faculty page. …”

u/Intelligent-Show-815: “Cs230 cs234 cs246 cs371 cs436 cs487 cs476 cs475 cs479 cs431 cs338 cs330 cs136 cs135”

u/jtnrnfjfj: “Math 239, cs 135, cs 136, cs 245, cs 246, cs 371, cs 475, cs 476, cs 489 cs 487 should all work I feel like this isn't as hard as others are making it sound”

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Winter 2023

Fall 2022

Spring 2022

Can Mathematics Majors take a minor in Computing? 6 points, 19 comments

“Kinda confused about a minor in CS.. is it true u must be a CS major upon admission? is there no other way? And even if a math major can take a minor in CS, would it be enuff to land co-op in swe? …”

u/Important_Winter_651: “… \- Math 239 \- (CS 115/135) \- (CS 116 and CS 136) or (CS 136) \- CS 370/371 \- Any 5 from CS 245, 246, 475, 476, 467, 479, 487 Cuz according to the below website, you don't need to be in CS to enroll above courses. …”

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CS course suggestions because advisors didn’t help 2 points, 9 comments

“Hi there! In 2B CS. For some particular reasons, I only have CS courses left as part of my degree requirements. I’ve taken CS 135, 136, 245, 246, and 251. …”

u/2kofawsome: “I think you can take CS 346, CS 348, CS 370, CS 457 But, I dont think its possible in 2B CS to have only CS courses left. …”

u/2kofawsome: “… After you take 240 and 241 this term it will open up CS 341, 349, 350, 360, 365, 442, 449, 487, 492 and taking 370 would open CS 475, 476, 479, 484 for next term, so after this term you will have tons of options. …”

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Computer Engineering or Math? 1 point, 16 comments

“Hey I'm kind of looking for advice on what program to choose I got into both Computer Engineering and Math at waterloo, and I know they are completely different programs but I'm unaware of which too …”

u/steakhousebobby123: “If CS + CO is taken why not try CO with a CS minor? Plus the CO degree should be good enough to get jobs like the ones u are describing Also don't just do a program because its prestigious. …”

u/reachoutc: “… can take to achieve this which are open to Math (non-cs) students are CS 370/371, CS 467, CS 475, CS 476, CS 479, CS 487. I guess there are exactly enough upper year CS courses to get a CS minor if you're not CS now. …”

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Is STAT 444 as bad as they say? 0 points, 14 comments

“Prof Shoja’eddib Chenouri is teaching it this term. Heard awful things about him (non existent course outline, only explained the project vaguely in a lecture, no solutions to the quizzes at all, …”

u/Important_Winter_651: “I just finished my 4B let me rank all my 4xx courses in difficulties: Hard CS476 > CS487 > CS479 > CS475 = STAT444 > CS436 > CS431 Easy The main reason is that 444s context is not really that hard or rigorous.”

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