Making a case for iterative linear equation solvers in DSP education

Iterative techniques for solving (large) sets of linear equations is an active research field in applied mathematics. Such techniques constitute an insignificant part, if any part at all, of the background of electrical and computer engineers. We argue that some exposure to such techniques is beneficial in the study of digital signal processing. While important in their own right, we show that the knowledge of such techniques facilitates a complementary understanding/interpretation of digital filters as equation solvers. Such connections between seemingly unrelated fields enhance the learning experience. Perhaps more importantly, we also show that elementary iterative equation solvers can be used as a vehicle for an introduction to adaptive filters at an elementary level.