Linear Algebra

by Terry Lawson

Book Overview

High level linear algebra book that blends both computational and theoretical aspects, using each to enhance the other. Explains the key points of the Gaussian elimination algorithm. Discusses vector spaces and linear transformations using matrix computations. Takes advantage of software packages such as MATLAB, Mathematica, and Maple.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471308978
• ISBN13: 9780471308973
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 2.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.7" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

In defense of this book

The number of people dissing this book is absurd. This is a great book, at once useful and rigorous, both notation-wise and in terms of proofs. Not only that, notorious institutions use or have used this book. A fine blend of theory and practice, has proves that resemble those in more theoretical books (and not even as much as a Mathematics student would want), and at the same time uses matrices throughout. Has several real-world applications and a wealth of exercises. But for some students, for some courses, judging from the reactions, it seems to go way over their heads. The author doesn't baby you into "believing" the theorems. I agree with a reader that this book is compromise, but IMHO a good one. The lot of Linear Algebra books can usually be divided into two heaps, one abstract and algebra-oriented, where matrices are just a special case, and another one that is almost matrix-only throughout, usually of more use to engineers and other applied fields. This book tries to bridge that (since there isn't really a "divide"). Some colleges can't afford to cater to all the different needs students have, and end up just lumping the students together in a class. I believe this book is a welcome addition to those students that want a matrix approach, and yet would appreciate a more mature and abstract outlook. The book, however, does suffer from dense typographical layout. It could use side notes to ease students into some topics or to "translate" notation, and a more relaxed spacing, and there could be more illustrations (where they apply). In short, it needs a makeover. Maybe something in what the Germans call the "American textbook style." Something that screams: "HEY, YO, PAY ATTENTION TO THIS POINT!", because it looks as if there's a substantial percentage of students that won't get it just by solely reading the text. In order to read this book, you must accustom yourself to a more rigorous notation than the other books (e.g., working with Sigma notation for matrices), which in itself is something one gains from using it; and you also should have taken a decent course in Analytic Geometry. I said course, not something meddled with your Calculus class. There are nice exercises to be resolved using something like Matlab (or the open source Scilab from INRIA), for instance, regarding applications in graph theory, with "huge" 9x9 matrices. This book is an intellectually honest endeavor that tries to keep itself afloat the 1 billion books of Linear Algebra for College students that have poor Mathematics. It's not the best book in the world (haven't found it yet), but it's neither one of the worst, as some responses here will lead you to believe. There should be more books like this. Blame your education (or lack thereof), not the author.

Solid Introductory Text

This is a very good introduction to linear algebra. It is useful in acclimating undergraduates to proof techniques. There is a good deal of material in the text. Many of the exercises are routine computations, but there are some interesting (more theoretical) ones too.I probably would not recommend the book for self-study for a typical undergraduate, but it was a great text to study from when I took my Linear Algebra course and it is possible to learn the sections that are inevitably not covered in one's course through self-study.