[dfan]

From the introduction: "The only background required of the reader is a good knowledge of advanced calculus and linear algebra. If the reader has seen basic mathematical analysis (e.g., norms, convergence, elementary topology), and basic probability theory, he or she should be able to follow every argument and discussion in the book."

It's a graduate-level course. If that paragraph is arcane, the book is probably a few courses in your future.

[wiz21c]

A someone who followed courses in num op, I can say that yes, indeed, the math concepts are rather basic and not that hard to learn. BUT you have to be at ease with mathematical reasoning because many of the proofs are not that easy to understand, they involve quite a lot of small insights here and there. Nothing really hard, but your brain will definitely have to work to understand these.

So yeah, the necessary concepts to study that course are not much but you have to have a strong habit of thinking in maths to apply them. And that habit comes with a lot of practice...

[tomrod]

We used the book in an advanced undergrad course. It's definitely doable once you have some real analysis and matrix analysis under your belt.