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Title: Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition
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Manufacturer: Addison Wesley
List Price: $137.33
Our Price: $12.99
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| Customer Reviews: |
| Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition by Addison Wesley Pretty bad | | This book starts out well, but eventually the chapters are too short and don't go far enough in depth on the more advanced topics. This book isn't ideal for any sort of self-study, as it does not contain enough information to thoroughly educate the reader on many of the subjects without some supplementary instruction. Also does not go into any detail on using Mat Lab or any other form of programming to solve linear algebra, which is somewhat essential nowadays. Wouldn't recommend. | | Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition by Addison Wesley An outstanding introduction to Linear Algebra | | This book provides a good companion for an introductory course in Linear Algebra. Mr. Lay's style is very clear, readable, and each concept logically builds on the last. My only concern is that, like another reviewer said there is the occasional gap between the exercises and the examples presented, which may require the assistance of the instructor. 4/5 Stars | | Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition by Addison Wesley A very good introduction to linear algebra | The highest quality of a book is the ability to teach yourself from it. Lay's book is very self-teachable because it is written in a non-pretentious, explanatory way, making sure you get the big picture while making sure you can do the little details. It reminds me of Griffiths books in physics.
It is a little proof light, so I can respect that a mathematician who is into analysis might find this book too easy. Problems aren't too hard but aren't too easy for the more conceptual questions.
And I appreciate that the problems are meant to test your ability to understand the material, not do mindless calculations that I know anyone can do. For example, some matrices will just start off already diagonalized for you in later chapters.
This is written from the perspective of a physicist. I thus say to my fellow scientists that this is a great book to gain a good understanding of the linear algebra. If you are an experimentalist who frankly wants to learn only what he needs to in order to get by, THEN THIS BOOK ISN'T FOR YOU. This book develops from scratch everything you need to know for undergraduate physics. Go read a Differential Equations book and learn as you go for the linear algebra. If you're a theorist, this is for you. | | Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition by Addison Wesley Good for the basics | | I bought this book in June for a Linear Algebra course I will be starting in the fall. I've been looking through it and reading bits and pieces and from what I see I certainly like this guy's style. I've had completely unusable math books before but this is one of the few that I can use without the assistance of a teacher to at least begin to understand the basic concepts involved. Since I'll be taking the course as a high school student and not as a college student this book seems like it will do just fine to introduce concepts, and, from what I hear, the teacher who is taking over this course in the fall is excellent at explaining stuff so students understand it. Maybe after taking the course I'll change my mind, but for now Linear Algebra and Its Applications is one of the better math books I've ever used. | | Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition by Addison Wesley High Quality Linear Algebra Text! | This book is much better than what I feel some reviewers are giving it credit for. Perhaps they have had better exposure than I have to other materials for comparison, but I cannot say for sure.
What I can say is that this book, for me, nearly took the place of the instructor that I had for the course. The book is literally that good at explaining concepts to you and providing relevant examples. I'm not sure what some reviewers meant when they found a gap between the examples and the problems at the end of the chapters, but I did not have this problem anywhere that I can recall.
What I like most about this book, compared to most of the math books I've seen in my day (more than enough, I assure you) is the format of the writing and the exposition of the problems. There are clear, clear connections made between visual and mechanical aspects of the problem. When you are working a linear algebra problem from the book, you should have a good idea of visually what it looks like that you're doing, where columns and rows are positioned, what elements from each are multiplying by the other and what the end result should look like before you get there. I don't typically get this vivid connection between the abstract visualization of the problem and the actual mechanics in other books, but this one poured it on consistently and I really enjoyed that.
The writing style is also casual enough that you don't feel as if you're being led through chapter after chapter of rote and repetition. Instead, it feels like you're being led further and further toward your understanding of the subject and you really are learning something new along the way at each step.
Regardless of what others say, I think that if you have the financial means and the interest, you should definitely include this book in your repertoire of linear algebra references. It is a gem, a guide and an indispensable reference for the subject. There is no other linear algebra text like it.
| | Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition by Addison Wesley Product Description | Linear algebra is relatively easy for students during the early stages of the course, when the material is presented in a familiar, concrete setting. But when abstract concepts are introduced, students often hit a brick wall. Instructors seem to agree that certain concepts (such as linear independence, spanning, subspace, vector space, and linear transformations), are not easily understood, and require time to assimilate. Since they are fundamental to the study of linear algebra, students' understanding of these concepts is vital to their mastery of the subject. Lay introduces these concepts early in a familiar, concrete Rn setting, develops them gradually, and returns to them again and again throughout the text so that when discussed in the abstract, these concepts are more accessible. |
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