Mathematics lets you see and understand the matrix.
What is this? These pages are a collection of facts (identities, approximations, inequalities, relations, ...) about matrices and matters relating to them. It is collected in this form for the convenience of anyone who wants a quick desktop reference.
In case you were, uh, expecting to see Keanu Reeves in a kitchen apron.
Dang. Now I feel like running a GAN to come up with new recipes!
for like minded people: https://youtu.be/eA6uLMsl9w0
What happens next is that different questions start to come to mind. The matrix attains a life of its own. You start to think questions like "Well, we have some x, y, z's and this box of numbers somehow transforms them into the right hand side's a, b, c's". Ok, the matrix is some kind of "transformation" now. You look at its properties. It appears that aX + bY can be computed entry-wise, so maybe this is a fundamental property and you call it linearity. Hmm. At some point you forget about the boxes of numbers and now you have bonafide transformations. From what? To where? You call these...vector spaces. And so on.
Further down the line you become preoccupied by questions of a different flavour, like what happens if you want something like Ax = cx. That is, we get x back with minimal distortion. Fairly simple question that leads to a lot of math.
It also just happens that when you consider mathematical functions of several dimensions, and matrices become apparent when you consider linear approximations. You've built this great theory for them and now that theory seems to really help in these kinds of problems. That is, a LOT of computational problems in this world.
The expressiveness and power you get from being able to cast and solve problems in matrix form is similar to the lightbulb that pops up when one “gets” the relational algebraic power underpinning SQL.
Like building a graphics or physics engine, or calculating the Page Rank of a web page, etc'.
If you can program, I recommend trying to build a 2D graphics and physics engine using vectors to represent position and velocity.
Also, Steven Wittens is amazing: http://acko.net/tv/webglmath/
Edit: Sorry, I misinterpreted the order of your suggested change. I agree that, even for use as a reference, perhaps the order could be improved.
In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and celery in butter until just tender, 5 minutes.
Pour in chicken and vegetable broths and stir in chicken, noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes before serving.
There is no spoon.
