Is Matrix Algebra a Good Idea for Mathematical Programming?

Matrix algebra is a representation of things that go on geometrically. So if i say it with a lower case m, it's matrix. If I say it with an upper cases m, it’s matrix. And so what i try to do in my classes is, rather than drag people through all of the matrix algebra, i try and help them to understand what's going on geometrially. It's just a way to try to visualize it. That's my comp ise, to provide the students in our own programme the depth that they need mathematically elsewhere.