Maths for Machine Learning

The vectors, matrices, derivatives and probability that every machine learning course assumes you already have.

13 modules Free, no login Updated 1 August 2026

About this track

Almost every machine learning explanation stops to say "recall that the gradient points uphill" or "this is just a dot product" and moves on. This track is where you go to actually see those things, one at a time, with something you can drag.

It starts at the equation of a line and works up through vectors, matrix multiplication, derivatives and probability distributions. Nothing here assumes a maths degree, and nothing is left as an exercise for the reader.

All 13 modules, in teaching order

  1. 01Equation of a Line (y = mx + c)Learn the equation of a line using an interactive 2D and 3D visualizer. Understand slope and intercept with real examples, live calculations, and guided practice.
  2. 02LogarithmsInteractive logarithms lesson - explore log curves for any base, the product-to-sum rule, and why log scales tame huge ranges.
  3. 03ExponentialsInteractive exponentials lesson - growth versus decay, the number e, doubling time, and why exponential always beats polynomial eventually.
  4. 04Vectors and the Dot ProductInteractive lesson on vectors and the dot product - drag vectors, see magnitude, angle, projection, and why the dot product changes sign at 90 degrees.
  5. 05Matrix MultiplicationInteractive matrix multiplication - click an output cell to see the row and column that produce it, with the shape rule enforced live.
  6. 06Derivatives and SlopeInteractive derivatives lesson - drag a point along a curve, shrink the secant to a tangent, and see the limit definition of the derivative in action.
  7. 07The Chain RuleInteractive chain rule lesson - see how derivatives multiply through composed functions, and why this is exactly what backpropagation computes.
  8. 08Partial Derivatives and the GradientInteractive partial derivatives and gradient lesson - explore a 2D surface, see partial slopes along each axis, and the gradient arrow pointing uphill.
  9. 09Mean, Mode and MedianInteractive lesson on mean, mode and median - see how skew and outliers pull the three averages apart, and which one to trust.
  10. 10Mean, Variance and Standard DeviationInteractive lesson on mean, variance and standard deviation - drag data points, see deviations squared, sigma bands and z-scores computed live.
  11. 11Probability BasicsInteractive probability basics - sample spaces, events, AND vs OR, independence, and the law of large numbers demonstrated by simulation.
  12. 12Bayes' TheoremInteractive Bayes theorem lesson - the medical test paradox shown as a natural frequency grid, with adjustable base rate, sensitivity and specificity.
  13. 13The Normal DistributionInteractive normal distribution lesson - adjust mean and standard deviation, see the 68-95-99.7 rule, z-scores, and the central limit theorem by sampling.

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