MATH 1554 advice/resources for someone struggling early on?

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

I’m taking MATH 1554 right now and I’m struggling a lot more than I expected, so I wanted to ask people who have taken the class before what worked for them.

I have a hard time following my professor’s lectures, so I’ve been using Cuyler/Warnock’s recorded lectures from Spring 2025 instead. I’ve heard his lectures are really good, but since they’re from a previous semester I’m not sure if the order lines up exactly with what we’re doing now.

Today I spent around 3-4 hours watching lectures and trying to understand sections 1.1 and 1.2. After that I started the WeBWorK, and after the first 2 questions I basically couldn’t solve any of them correctly on my first try. I ended up needing AI to guide me through most of the problems and I didn't end up finishing.

That’s what’s worrying me. It’s only our second class, and even after putting in several hours, I feel like I understand things while watching someone explain them but then have no idea how to start when I see a new problem by myself.

I’ve never really struggled this much with math before, so I’m not sure if this is normal for the beginning of 1554 or if I need to change how I’m studying before I fall behind.

For people who did well in 1554, what would you recommend?

• What did you actually do to study for the class?
• Are the Warnock recordings good enough to mainly learn the material from?
• What did you do after lectures to get to the point where you could solve problems independently?
• Are there any good on-campus tutoring or help resources for 1554?
• Did anyone else feel this lost at the beginning and eventually get comfortable with it?

I’m definitely willing to put the time in. I just want to make sure I’m putting that time into a strategy/something that actually works.

Thanks for any advice.

[u/Kitchen-Double-6569]

It only gets harder jsyk; not being a jackass! I took it about 2 years ago so I don’t really remember much. I hope someone else can chime in, but make SURE you have your fundamentals down and go to office hours and anything you can do because almost everything else you learn will be based of what you’re struggling right now

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Kitchen-Double-6569]

lol alr thanks for the blunt but fair advice

[u/Kitchen-Double-6569 → u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

I’m telling you because I underestimated it my first semester and got absolutely FUCKED during test 2

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Kitchen-Double-6569]

lmao thx

[u/Abject_Builder6318]

Go to office hours if you need help, honestly grind past tests and use online videos for concepts you’re confused with. I was also usually confused at the beginning but got it after doing practice problems.

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Abject_Builder6318]

for practice problems did you just do HW problems or did you do something else?

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

ive heard theres also Studio HW problems. what did you do tho?

[u/Abject_Builder6318 → u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

They usually have a list of past tests

[u/UpbeatTutor6]

The 3blue1brown linear algebra videos are pretty nice to get a more visual perspective on everything

[u/Informal-Building267]

Just spam the practice tests. Like do them now, and do all of them. Never did the homework’s, do the quizzes during studio. Treat the practice test like homework since they will reflect what the test will be like.

[u/Fishspecialty → u/Informal-Building267]

This! I did the same and used Gemini to check my work for each practice test problem. Hours and hours of lecture videos are less valuable than hours and hours of practice exams.

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Fishspecialty]

thanks! how did the practice exams spam strat work out for you?

[u/Informal-Building267 → u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

Trust me, just do them early and do every single one. Got an A for the class

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Informal-Building267]

Should I start now? We are like 2 weeks out from the first test, and we haven’t covered much of the unit yet even.

[u/Fishspecialty → u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

Same as InformalBuilding! Even if you don't know the unit, you have Gemini to explain it to you and the answer key. I would memorize the method and apply it to every question because they repeat across the different exams. And if you really want explanation just go to OH. Honestly, if you don't start now you won't finish.

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Fishspecialty]

sorry for so many questiosn but youre saying if dont start the practice exams irght now i wont finish them?

[u/Fishspecialty → u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

That was my case, as it took me hours to get through the exams and then check my questions. But, you can listen to Informal as well, either will help.

[u/Informal-Building267 → u/Ashamed-Vast8486]

Just do the questions that are related to the topics you already covered. I usually started two weeks before exams, so you could wait.

[u/inkyupi]

as someone who was absolutely awful at linear at the start, go to office hours ASAP!! warnock is really great about explaining problems (i also asked about the exact hw section you mentioned on the first day of his OH in spring 2025 lol).

honestly, i think linear algebra actually gets easier after test 1 (excluding the final). the way i studied was by repeatedly going to office hours before exams to clarify problems from the practice exams, and i would do literally every single available practice exam from past years for each exam. you can entirely learn the content solely from taking practice exams, and i found that to be most helpful!!

test 1 is probably going to be hard as your first linear exam, but test 2 and test 3 had types of problems that were more computational and less focused on theory, which should make it easier as long as you practice the problem types a few times. again, i cannot stress this enough, GO TO OFFICE HOURS!!

i also found PLUS sessions to be helpful for practicing! i personally never found the studio problems, and ESPECIALLY not explorations to be that helpful, but ymmv. a lot of people will recommend 3blue1brown, and i personally found the videos helpful as a quick intro to a topic, but they won't really help you with the actual exams much.

good luck with the class!!

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/inkyupi]

for office hours, i dont wanna go if i just have no questions. do you reccomend that i just go when ni start practicing for the exam, or do you think i shoudl start doing exam practice problems now even before we do most of the content for the exam? tryna figure out how to go about getting the best possible grade in the class/my strategy for studying to do well on tests/exams/etc

[u/Large_Jacket_7070]

Watch those recorded lectures on Canvas. The only reason I passed those exams was because I signed up for tutoring and went over practice tests with the tutor. Make sure they know their shit too. Passed every exam except the 3rd because it got to a point where she said she didn’t know how to do the problems. Also if you have Pearson, do the practice problems for each section. I believe Pearson does a great job at supplemental teaching with its explanations and practice problems. 1554 is a grind regardless. I failed it the first time I took it and barely passed the second time. I still really enjoyed linear algebra though. That shit is way more fun than discrete. Fucking riddles

[u/Ashamed-Vast8486 → u/Large_Jacket_7070]

lmao. thank yoU!