6 HN users recommended this explainer5 months2016–2025score 7
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN repeatedly names it the best, most intuitive explanation of eigenvalues, and a gateway to the whole linear algebra series.
3Blue1Brown's chapter on eigenvectors and eigenvalues in the Essence of Linear Algebra series. It builds a visual intuition for what they mean, why an eigenbasis is useful, and ends with a puzzle.
“By far the best explanation of eigenvalues is found on 3blue1brown” (HN, 2022)
On the topic of eigenvalues, this video is a very nice introduction: [this video] (the whole playlist kicks ass; highly recommended for anyone interested in "seeing" what linear algebra is all about)
3Blue1Brown explanation of eigenvectors and eigenvalues is very insightful and intuitive [1]. One of my favorite videos from his channel is "Who cares about topology? (Inscribed rectangle problem)" [2]. They way a Torus and Möbius Strip come up as solution to the problem is so elegant. [1]: [this video] [2]: [link]
Intuitive explanation of eigenvectors and eigenvalues.
A far easier to digest primer on eigenvalues is available from 3Blue1Brown [+]. His presentation format is undeniably approachable, so much so that I think you could probably use it to teach linear algebra and eigenvectors to 9-year olds. [+] [this video]
By far the best explanation of eigenvalues is found on 3blue1brown: [this video] Seriously, the course on the essence of linear algebra did more for me than my entire college linear algebra course. It's only a pity I discovered the videos at the end of my mechanical engineering degree and not sooner.
Then definitely what 3Blue1Brown's video on eigenvalues and eigenvectors. [1] That's when I clicked to me! His entire series on Linear Algebra is incredibly well produced. [1] [this video]
3Blue1Brown has a good series on YouTube for building intuition in linear algebra: [link] In one of the last videos in the (relatively short) series, he discusses eigen-*: ~'eigen-stuffs are straight-forward but only make sense if you have a solid visual understanding of the pre-requisites (linear transformations, determinants, linear systems of equations, change of basis, etc.). Confusion about eigen-stuffs usually has more to do with a shaky foundation than the eigen-things themselves' [this video] All of the videos in the series, including this later one on eigen-things, focus on animations to show what the number crunching is doing to the coordinate system.
Animated eigen-concepts built on visual foundations.
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