Our averages were drastically low, not to mention it was really difficult to understand her lectures as they were never clear. Exams reflected nothing that was taught in class.

Math 135 is on the more conceptual side and so is Prof Biswal's teaching style. The class emphasizes heavily on linear algebra basics from Math 115A. Math 131A is definitely recommended before this class. While the lecture may not be clear at times, Prof Biswal is extremely helpful after the class - she would answer every question on campuswire and send follow-ups for your questions. The homework is more computation-heavy as compared to the exams, which place heavy emphasis on making conceptual connections. Overall, I find the class to be very enjoyable.

The Subject Matter:
Math 135 is very different from the Lower Division Differential Equations course, but if you enjoy diff. eq.s, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this class. The class aims to teach you more of the theory behind diff. eq.s rather than emphasizing memorization of techniques. Over the course of the quarter, you will use concepts from linear algebra (basis, self-adjointness, and orthogonality mainly), and I believe some experience with real analysis (convergence of series, sequences, etc.) would provide a more complete understanding of the topics. As a warning, some of the topics of the class are somewhat difficult to fully grasp due to their nuance.

Prof. Biswal:
Professor Biswal makes sure lectures are engaging for students by asking the class questions. To me, this is an extremely effective way of solidifying student understanding--you'll be able to recognize the gaps in your understanding by trying to explain your thoughts precisely and succinctly to Prof. ! Prof. is also very kind, helpful, and patient which goes a long way to encourage students to ask questions. Overall, she is a great professor!

Homework:
The homework load is very manageable and consists mainly of problems from the textbook.

Exams:
Exams are somewhat difficult, and sometimes the questions don't reflect problems discussed in lecture or asked of you on homework assignments. However, you can cleverly use the topics in the class to find the answers to these sometimes perplexing exam problems.

Math 135 is kind of a confusing class. The professor doesn't really deeply cover the material that's on exams and homework, and so you're left to teach yourself the nit and grit of the course. I think if you're really math minded, and have experience from courses like Math 131 and Math 115 you should be fine in this class because some of the topics do relate to matters from those classes. If you aren't super math-y and don't have a lot of experience in math upper divs, some topics will be harder to master. If you're really willing to put in the time to learn the material (by finding supplemental stuff online) or go to OH, this class is pretty doable. Biswal is really nice and is always ready to answer questions.