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MATH 245Linear Algebra 2 (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 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

MATH 245 is an advanced-level version of MATH 235.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • MATH146 - Linear Algebra 1 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Enrolled in an Honours Mathematics program

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • MATH225 - Applied Linear Algebra 2 (0.50)
    • MATH235 - Linear Algebra 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001601025 / 60MWF 13:30–14:20

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

88% liked it39% easy90% useful

From 95 ratings and 31 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Peak experience! Unlike most other advanced sections, Faisal gave a lot of non-pmath applications and examples for each topic in the course, which is extremely helpful and inspiring. The difficulty varies a lot in advanced courses, but he did a very good job explaining the concept by planning out a route of learning the theory of canonical forms the first time, and keep coming back to it with more advanced and deeper theories that coincide. This form of learning is very helpful to see the theory as a layered cake instead of just nuking every question with advanced tools that lack the motivation and feasibility to implement.

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • i ran the 14X gauntlet and this was still the hardest course i have taken yet. not sure what previous sections were doing but with the right prof this can be a damn hard course. however, it's also an amazing course and i know so much more linalg now :)

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Faisal made this an extremely enjoyable course. Every lecture was interesting and insightful, with lots of motivation sparked throughout the course. The eigenfaces lecture (demonstration of an SVD application) was a highlight of the course. The latter part of the course on modules was almost magical, and it was nice seeing how we could nuke a lot of the results that had to be carefully developed previously, like JNF, minimal polynomials, etc. using the rational normal form and invariant factors. Must-take course for advanced math students.

    Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Unironically the easiest course I've taken in all of university so far, although this may be due to my prof. We were supposed to have three tests throughout the term alongside assignments, however the second test got cancelled. The two remaining tests we had were extremely easy too (literally 100 median on the first test). As a cherry on top, if you did well on the term tests, you were allowed to skip the final, which meant that I practically secured 95+ in the course by early November.

    Nov 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Great course with Blake. Some assignment questions were extremely challenging but they are only worth 10% and done in groups. You don't need to write the final exam if you do well enough on the three tests, which were all very fair.

    Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

240 posts and comments in 175 threads mention MATH 245, April 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

any 2nd year cs courses that you can take with cs 116? 5 points, 6 comments

“Is there any 200 CS courses that are direct successors of 116? or do I need to take 136 no matter what?”

u/fisherfam: “There are no CS major courses (CS 24X) that are direct successors of CS 116. There are however the non-CS major courses (CS 23X) that have only 116 as a requirement.”

u/CSplays: “This needs math 235/245 and math 237/247, so you wouldn't be able to take it until after 2A anyway.”

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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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Winter 2024

Is this course load too heavy? 1 point, 10 comments

“Math235, math237, stat230, co250, and an engl. I wanna leave co250 for next term, but idk what course to switch to if I'm leaning towards math econ major.”

u/dave7364: “I'd say take co 255 and math 245 to challenge yourself, but otherwise u should be fine”

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Fall 2023

should I drop a course? 1 point, 9 comments

“im in 2A math and my courses are math237, math235, stat230, cs234 and cs246. It’s just the beginning so it’s not that bad but yeah”

u/ftgxttg: “Switch into math245 and have fun with Stephen New”

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Spring 2023

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar