April 6, 2019
Although at first glance they seem a bit strange, determinants actually have a nice geometric interpretation and give useful information about the linear map. Outside of linear algebra, determinants make an appearance in the change of variables theorem from multivariable comics.
Though determinants are usually introduced in the context of linear algebra, linear algebra can actually be studied without referring to determinants (or matrices) at all! Some mathematicians feel very strongly about this...