MATH 4500 — Matrix Groups
General Information
Matrix groups are central to mathematics and important in physics and engineering. The objects of study are classes of matrices (e.g., orthogonal, unitary, or symplectic) with both algebraic (groups) and geometric/topological (manifolds) structure. Thus the course is a mixture of algebra, geometry/topology, and a little analysis. Topics include Lie algebras (an extension of the notion of vector multiplication in three-dimensional space), the exponential mapping (a generalization of the exponential function of calculus), and representation theory (which studies different ways groups can be represented by matrices). Concrete examples will be emphasized.
Full Cornell course description (SP26)
Credits: 4
Prerequisites and Enrollment
Prerequisites: a semester of linear algebra (MATH 2210, MATH 2230, MATH 2310, or MATH 2940) and a semester of multivariable calculus (MATH 2220, MATH 2240, or MATH 1920), or equivalent.
Recorded Offerings
| Semester | Listed instructors | Course details |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Dan Barbasch | Roster / syllabus |
Workload and General Advice
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Course information checked against Cornell’s Spring and Fall 2026 rosters on September 18, 2026. The listed semesters are verified examples, not a complete offering history.