An outstanding introduction to Linear Algebra

books:


	• Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition David C. Lay Addison Wesley, 2005 - 576 pages average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great Book!

I was not impressed with my instructor for this course, so I had to rely heavily on the book to teach myself the subject. It is very well written, with plenty of appropriate examples and exercises. I really like that Lay puts a couple of practice problems before the actual exercises--I used these as a test of whether or not I needed to re-read the section before doing the h/w. I liked the study guide, but the "see the text" responses and failing to answer T/F questions was absolutely annoying (although I saw Lay's purpose b/c I did learn more by looking it up, it was just time-consuming). The practice tests were helpful, although quite difficult. Make sure you buy a copy that still has the CD-ROM (with the study guide). Another tip is to go to Dr. Lay's website at the University of MD to view any handouts/info he gives his studs. I highly recommend the book.

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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

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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.

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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.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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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