Learn to Use Mathematics in Machine Learning with this Coursera Program

Learn to Use Mathematics in Machine Learning with this Coursera Program

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Sumeet Lalla

02 June 2023

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Learn to Use Mathematics in Machine Learning with this Coursera Program

Course Overview

This Coursera Mathematics in Machine Learning program provides a comprehensive introduction to linear algebra concepts and fundamentals used in Machine Learning (ML). The course is designed to help learners develop a solid foundation in linear algebra and understand its application in ML algorithms. It will assist you in gaining insightful knowledge about the top skills required to become a machine learning expert.

This course is known for its practicality and organization. The course materials are presented logically and easily, making it easy for learners to understand the concepts. The instructors emphasize intuition, providing practical examples and sufficient theoretical explanations to help learners understand the material easily.

Quizzes and assignments play a critical role in reinforcing the concepts taught in the course. They allow learners to test their knowledge and apply the concepts learned in practical situations. These quizzes and assignments are designed to thoroughly test the learners' understanding of the concepts taught in the course.

In addition, the practice exercises provided in the course build the base for doing the graded assignments. These exercises allow learners to practice the concepts they have learned in the lectures and apply them to real-world problems. By doing the practice exercises, learners can gain confidence in their ability to apply the concepts they have learned, making it easier to complete the graded assignments.

The instructors, David Dye and Sam Cooper, teach at the Imperial College of Engineering. They have a very practical and intuitive approach towards difficult mathematical concepts and make them enjoyable to follow.

"The course provides in-depth knowledge on how to apply Linear Algebra to solve problems in ML and ensures that learners get a strong subject foundation which they can build upon in the future."

- Sumeet Lalla

Course Structure

As we know, math is used in Machine learning, it provides the theoretical foundation and algorithms necessary for understanding and developing models. The course covers various topics, including vectors and matrices, linear equations, matrix factorization, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and singular value decomposition. These concepts are explored in the context of ML applications, such as regression analysis, principal component analysis, and support vector machines.

The course consists of video lectures, quizzes, and programming assignments that allow learners to practically apply the concepts covered in the lectures. Learners also have access to a discussion forum to interact with instructors and fellow learners. 

In the beginning, the course deals with basic concepts of vectors and matrices. As the course progresses, the student learns more about vector properties. In the mid-week, the concepts of matrix operations and coding special matrices through Python are introduced. The pre-final week introduces a matrix as a projection space where a vector can be transformed, and it paves the way to an important concept of the Gram-Schmidt process of making the matrix orthonormal and reflection of an object in a reference plane.

This is introduced as a programming exercise. The final week deals with the concept of eigenvalues, eigenvectors and Diagonalization through eigenvectors and eigen values and the introduction of page rank, which is the foundation algorithm of the Google Search engine. The same is presented as a programming assignment.

By the end of the course, learners will have a deep understanding of linear algebra and its application in ML algorithms. They will be able to implement ML algorithms using linear algebra concepts, analyze and interpret the results of these algorithms, and apply these techniques to solve real-world problems.

Insider Tips

To get the best out of this course, I have included some important tips that you might find useful.

  • Make Notes 
    Students can take notes in the lectures which can be then visualized and built by programming in Python.
     
  • Assessment
    Students can attempt assessments multiple times. The assignment is discussed in the video lectures. Also, notes and lab work is provided to help attempt the assessment. The 12 assessments come in the form of quizzes and auto-graded programming assignments where the student has to code the given problem formulation and answer the numerical questions with the results obtained from the code. 

    Then, the grader provides feedback regarding the correctness of the result. There are optional practice quizzes to help students prepare for the graded quizzes and programming assignments. 
     
  • Prerequisites
    Proficiency in mathematics is crucial for understanding and implementing machine learning algorithms, optimizing model performance, and interpreting the results. There are no other prerequisites other than machine learning math requirements.
     
  • Discussion Forum
    Each week, there was a discussion forum where concepts and assignments/quizzes queries are discussed.

Final Take

I am currently working as a Software Engineer in Big Data ETL pipelines. The course has helped me understand some of the core concepts and algorithms of ML through a practical and intuitive based approach. It also helps in building the programming logic of difficult mathematical scenarios. I was pursuing a Master of Data Science from Coursera and had this subject in the curriculum. I took this course to supplement and enhance my understanding in this area.

One of the main reasons why this course is good is because it provides learners with a solid foundation in machine learning mathematics topics like linear algebra. The course covers various topics, including vectors and matrices, linear equations, matrix factorization, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and singular value decomposition. By the end of the course, learners have a comprehensive understanding of these concepts and can apply them to solve real-world problems.

Another reason why this course is good is that it emphasizes the application of linear algebra concepts in ML. It is a progressing domain and there are numerous advantages to Machine Learning. The course teaches learners how to apply linear algebra to solve problems in ML, such as regression analysis, principal component analysis, and support vector machines. By working on programming assignments, learners gain hands-on experience in applying linear algebra to solve real-world problems, which is critical for success in ML.

Key Takeaways

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Learn how to apply linear algebra concepts in ML algorithms such as regression analysis, principal component analysis, and support vector machines

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Gain hands-on experience working on programming assignments that use linear algebra to solve real-world problems

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Prepare to implement machine learning algorithms in real-world scenarios

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Discussion forum to interact with instructors and fellow learners

Course Instructors

Sumeet Lalla

Software Engineer

Sumeet Lalla is working as a Software Engineer at Natwest Group in Data Engineering and working on NLP Generative AI use cases like Summarization, Named Entity Recognition and Q&A Chatbot in Risk and Finance domain.