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MATH 146Linear Algebra 1 (Advanced Level)

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Mathematics

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: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

MATH 146 is an advanced-level version of MATH 136.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • MATH145 - Algebra (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Enrolled in an Honours Mathematics program

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • MATH106 - Applied Linear Algebra 1 (0.50)
    • MATH114 - Linear Algebra for Science (0.50)
    • MATH115 - Linear Algebra for Engineering (0.50)
    • MATH136 - Linear Algebra 1 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
    • NE112 - Linear Algebra for Nanotechnology Engineers (0.50)

Leads to

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00156600 / 100MWF 11:30–12:20
LEC 00259290 / 100MWF 13:30–14:20
LEC 701225387 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10156610 / 100M 16:30–17:20
TUT 10261220 / 100M 16:30–17:20
TST 20156620 / 100Feb 24 19:00–20:50
Mar 17 19:00–20:50
TST 20264060 / 100Feb 24 19:00–20:50
Mar 17 19:00–20:50

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

91% liked it52% easy87% useful

From 162 ratings and 50 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Pretty tough offering with Satriano. Biweekly assignments (usually only 5 questions) were hard, but quite rewarding. Final was really difficult. I think this offering was a bit non-standard, since we covered some abstract topics like tensor products and exterior algebra.

    Apr 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Marcoux is a very clear professor who somehow sustains making dry jokes even with no reaction from the class. Also very helpful (and funny) during office hours. First half was basic and the second half had more content. That being said, midterm was more difficult than the final.

    Apr 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • First time taking an advanced course—it definitely hits different. It's more interesting and less tedious, but it's also easy to get lost.
    Content is not spaced out evenly, some weeks are 3x heavier than others.

    May 2021 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • As my first advanced math course, I found this much harder than math135/137, but I'm glad I took it. It's pretty unconventional for a first linear algebra course, since we build up from the abstract foundations (instead of memorizing how to multiply matrices etc). 10/10

    Apr 2020 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Pretty easy for an advanced-level course (at least with Willard). Content was fun and interesting. The midterm was a breeze (pretty sure the median was 100).

    Mar 2020 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

179 posts and comments in 145 threads mention MATH 146, June 2011 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.

Fall 2024

How cooked am I next term 33 points, 27 comments

“https://preview.redd.it/sja2uyioa4ae1.png?width=652&format=png&auto=webp&s=da6f9cb5427cd275561128caa48f6851333be88b I am probably going to regret this. Is this too big of a course load?”

u/shitfartpissballs: “148 is absolutely fucked”

u/Outside_Buddy6449: “… MATH 146 is usually okay but I heard Spiro can be hard if you have him. …”

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MATH 146/148 after 135/137? 6 points, 3 comments

u/jjej2000: “Anyone have experience moving up from either math 135/137 in 1A to math 146/148 in 1B? Any significant gaps in knowledge? Which one would be better without taking its advanced-level prereq?”

u/ParticleRoaster: “… MATH 146 doesn't really use any number theory from 145. The only thing u missed is probably some basic abstract algebra (what is a group, ring, field etc.) But as far as I know these are not used that much in MATH 146 as well. …”

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CS 1B courses 1 point, 3 comments

u/anonim0791: “How doable (with good grades) would be CS 2B: || || |CS 136L, CS 146, MATH 146, MATH 148, STAT 230, ECON 201?| | |”

u/amongus44: “I didn't do math 14 but ik the cs146 + math146 + math148 combo is not uncommon, you'll have plenty of people going through the exact same thing I think if you're taking all 14X and you feel somewhat confident if you took 14X this term you'll find stat230 pretty easy Econ201 also …”

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Spring 2024

Lin alg heavy courses 13 points, 10 comments

“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/Far_Bookkeeper6488: “quick someone get faisal to make lin alg 3”

u/Far_Bookkeeper6488: “pretty sure his area of expertize is something called representation theory? would be cool if he made a pmath course on it im sure math 146 or 245 have a lot more to offer that could be put in a lin alg 3 course but ya prob not gonna happen”

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Math 135 vs 145 5 points, 8 comments

“Hey, I’m an incoming cs student at uw, and right now I’m deciding between math 135 and 145 for my course selection. …”

u/Sweaty_Catch5933: “… Compared to MATH 135, we covered some basic abstract algebra (groups, rings, and fields), which builds the foundations of MATH 146 (which covers abstract linear algebra over these algebraic structures instead of just the real numbers). …”

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Math 147 2 points, 3 comments

“Heyyy I’m an incoming math student this fall. I’ve been scared out of taking 135 but really like the mathfin major which recommends taking math 147 during my first year. …”

u/Worgen660: “… But I stuck it through and also did Math146 and Mat148 because of sunken cost fallacy and also I made friends in the advanced class and I knew no one in the regular section. …”

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Winter 2024

Drop math 146? 2 points, 3 comments

u/DonutsStackingUp: “I'm not doing too well in math 146 and was considering dropping down to 136. 146 is somewhat interesting, but imo I already have a heavy course load this semester. …”

u/Sirsoderp: “I don't have a recommendation, but I'd just like to help your concerns. Usually advance classes will cover the content of the non advanced much faster, thus it is possible you have already done the …”

u/soros-bot4891: “… when i took math 146 there was a bunch of random stuff they were doing in 136 that i didn’t know of. …”

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Waterloo Math good? 15 points, 23 comments

“How’s the program”

u/Hot_Ear4518: “The basic undergrad courses are ok, not much to them, but thats the same at every university. Pmath and co are pretty good and as good as any other uni”

u/blank_anonymous: “… Math 145/146/147/148 are exceptional courses, and most universities don't have any analogue of them.”

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Fall 2023

Want to major in Pure Math, but already graduated highschool 26 points, 70 comments

“Hi all. I’ve been in college (not uni) for about 3 months now, and I’ve not really been enjoying it. I’ve been majoring in Chemical Engineering Technology, and I don’t think it really excites me that …”

u/Adventurous-News6198: “… I took MATH 145 and 146 during my year 1 in uwaterloo. Axiomatic proofs are not the HS trigonometric proofs that you are used to. You need to relearn a lot of things that you think you have a good understanding about. …”

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