Guides · 6 min read
Study linear algebra by audio
Linear algebra is the maths under machine learning, graphics and most of engineering. It is also notation-heavy, which is why it is rarely available as audio. With the right textbook and a narrator that reads the notation properly, listening becomes a strong second pass.
Updated 6 October 2026
Free textbooks that work well
- Linear Algebra Done Right, 4th edition, by Sheldon Axler: open access from the publisher, as a PDF.
- Linear Algebra by Jim Hefferon: free, with exercises and answers.
- Mathematics for Machine Learning by Deisenroth, Faisal and Ong: a free PDF whose first chapters cover the linear algebra used in ML.
All three are text-based PDFs, so they import cleanly. Download the PDF from the official site and upload it on the Add page.
How the notation sounds
Aethel reads matrix and vector notation as words: transposes, subscripts, determinants and eigenvalue equations. For example, “det(A − λI) = 0” is read as “det of the quantity A minus lambda I equals 0”.
x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a
Aethel says
x equals the quantity negative b plus or minus the square root of the quantity b squared minus 4ac, over 2a
Even familiar formulas are easier to follow when grouping is spoken.
A weekly rhythm
- Read the new section at your desk once, working one or two exercises.
- Listen to the same section twice during the week, on a commute or a walk.
- Ask for a worked example whenever a definition feels abstract.
- Do five minutes of Review a day; the cards come from the sections you opened.
Questions
Can I learn linear algebra only by listening?
Not entirely: you need to work problems on paper. Listening makes the definitions and theorems familiar before and after you do, which is where it saves time.