Product Description
Further Linear Algebra is a natural sequel to the authors' highly acclaimed Basic Linear Algebra (ISBN 3-540-76122-5). The more advanced topics covered here take the reader to the very heart of the subject, and include inner product spaces, direct sums of subspaces, the primary decomposition theorem and various canonical forms for matrices. Furthermore, the authors provide a brief introduction to the use of MAPLE in linear algebra calculations, and biographical profiles of eminent mathematicians associated with the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Buy With a Bottle of Glue...
Or you may lose a few pages.
The first day of use a pair of sheets came undone.I glued them in and now another set is coming out.The mathematical material looks well done and is nice pedagogical work.I would have given the book 4 or 5 stars for that, but the physical packaging--a responsibility of the publisher--is terrible.Why didn't they sew in the pages of a math text, which always can be counted on to receive heavy use?The first day of use and it begins to fall apart, too!Glue alone is not enough; I've owned cheap paperback novels which were bound more durably.Shame on Springer, a venerable science publisher!

Fascinating, rigorous and fun
I used this book as part of a Linear Algebra 2 course and found it to be clear and enjoyable to learn from.The chapter on the history of the major pioneers was particularly delightful.This book contains more than most Linear Algebra 2 courses cover (at least more than we did) so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as THE book to buy to learn Linear Algebra.As its name indicates, it is more of an enrichment book in many ways.I think that this book, like many put out by Springer, helps flesh out an otherwise daunting subject, showing part of its mathematical beauty that is visible on the undergraduate level. ... Read more

Product Description

This classic volume applies linear algebra to a variety of disciplines–engineering, the physical sciences, social sciences, and business. It motivates the reader with illustrative examples. This is a competitor to Strang.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Less abstract than many
Not as abstract as many linear algebra books, with less emphasis on proof and more on understanding how the pieces fit together.

Favorite Linear Algebra Book
This is one of the best math books I have ever read. I had to learn linear algebra for my graduate research and this book was invaluable. I just wish they wrote a differential equations book as well. The best part of this book are the excellent conceptual explainations, but the proofs are well motivated and clear as well, and I usually hate proofs. The coverage of Singular Value Decomposition is very good.

Best text for undergraduates on Linear Algebra
It provides an excellent approach to Linear Algebra for self-pacing. Different from other linear algebra books, it's well organized and teaches how and why the ideas come from by providing many interesting examples.

It isn't only the classics, but the essential reference for related fields in my bookshelf. ... Read more

Product Description
Can one learn linear algebra solely by solving problems? Paul Halmos thinks so, and you will too once you read this book. The Linear Algebra Problem Book is an ideal text for a course in linear algebra. It takes the student step by step from the basic axioms of a field through the notion of vector spaces, on to advanced concepts such as inner product spaces and normality. All of this occurs by way ofa series of 164 problems, each with hints and, at the back of the book, full solutions. This book is a marvelous example of how to teach and learn mathematics by 'doing' mathematics. It will work well for classes taught in small groups and can also be used for self-study. After working their way through the book, students will understand not only the theorems of linear algebra, but also some of the questions which were asked which enabled the theorems to be discovered in the first place. They will gain confidence in their problem solving abilities and be better prepared to understand more advanced courses. As the author explains, 'I don't think I understand a subject until I know the questions ... I wrote this book to organize those questions, problems, in my own mind.' Try this book with your students and they too will be able to organize and understand the questions of linear algebra. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Text is great, printing is not
This is an absolutely excellent book. I came at it before I had ever taken a linear class. The book develops the subject in a way that it seems a natural progression. I was never faced with a proof that seemed to be just number crunching; they all get at the very heart of what is at stake. I recently read back through it after taking a linear class, and I still come to a better understanding of the subject by looking through this. It is well worth your time. The only complaint I have with the book is that there are a lot of typos. It frequently refers back to the wrong problem number, and there are typos in the mathematics that could cause problems if you aren't keeping track of what is happening. (Ex: in the solution to 135, they forget to specify orthogonal projections, or in 145 they say that if y=Px then what is wanted is Uy=Px when it should actually read Uy=Ax) The text is written clearly enough you should be able to figure out what is happening, but if another edition comes out it would be worth upgrading

Not as good for second year graduate students
It is a good book for beginners but not as great for graduate students.

Great book!
I agree with the following reviewer in that Halmos' books are always entertaining and inviting! Fun to read, concise yet clear! The book contains most of the elementary yet important problems in an undergrad course with solutions in the back. It's very helpful working through all these problem because it will tremendous enhance your understanding of the subject. Also, if you want a hardcore problem oriented approach to linear algebra, check out Proskuryakov's Problems in Linear Algebra. Some of the problems in the book are Putnam like. Virtually any type of Putnam taste problems in Linear Algebra can be found in Proskuryakov.But this one, contrast to Halmos', is the least entertaining--that's why it is called HARDCORE PROBLEM APPROACH! You would be a great linear algebra problem solving machine working through both books!

Start out with one of the best
Halmos is one of the great mathematical expositors of the 20th Century, and his book "Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces" stands as the definitive introduction to the subject for budding mathematicians. This book, "Linear Algebra Problem Book", is perhaps best described as an engaging and semi-informal invitation and complement to that original work, which grew out of lectures given by the legendary John von Neumann. In contrast to typical treatments of linear algebra, "Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces" is abstract (introduces determinants through alternating forms), rigorous, concise, and demands a certain level of mathematical maturity. This book, "Linear Algebra" is exactly the opposite. Starting from very little assumed background, it all but gives away the store, written in plain language, anticipating students' questions and misconceptions, and leading them to a deeper understanding of mathematics through the Socratic method. This is not a problem book in the Schaum's outline sense; there is no drill or rote calculations. Every question is carefully chosen to illustrate a point or expose a potential misunderstanding in the student's knowledge or to exercise the student's intuition and ability to make connections. The answers are given as detailed explanations, integral to the exposition, which go far beyond merely answering the questions posed, raising deeper implications and questions. This is an excellent book for beginning students of higher mathematics, and a very user friendly guide to Halmos' classic text.

Clear, interesting, easy to follow.
I'm no mathematician but, I own a number of linear algebra and abstract algebra books and this book makes them all pale in comparison. I really enjoyed working through it. Maybe a bit pedantic for more advanced typesbut, if you want to get a handle on the concepts this is the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Boiled-down essentials of the top-selling Schaum's Outline series for the student with limited time

What could be better than the bestselling Schaum's Outline series? For students looking for a quick nuts-and-bolts overview, it would have to be Schaum's Easy Outline series. Every book in this series is a pared-down, simplified, and tightly focused version of its predecessor. With an emphasis on clarity and brevity, each new title features a streamlined and updated format and the absolute essence of the subject, presented in a concise and readily understandable form.

Graphic elements such as sidebars, reader-alert icons, and boxed highlights stress selected points from the text, illuminate keys to learning, and give students quick pointers to the essentials.

• Designed to appeal to underprepared students and readers turned off by dense text
• Cartoons, sidebars, icons, and other graphic pointers get the material across fast
• Concise text focuses on the essence of the subject
• Delivers expert help from teachers who are authorities in their fields
• Perfect for last-minute test preparation
• So small and light that they fit in a backpack!

Customer Reviews (4)

Good introduction
If you're new to linear algebra, this book may clarify some concepts in a traditional textbook. If you understand your college text ok or are looking for a more in depth study, this is not the book for you. I found it to be helpful and easy to understand.

Kindle version.Too many examples unreadable due to formating problems
This is a review of the kindle version.As this book attempts to convey a large amount of information in a small book, it relies heavily on the examples.I normally like this form of teaching as it helps me understand the concepts.The problem is that in the kindle version, a large number of the examples are scrambled.This makes it much harder to understand the text as it refers to the example.Not all of the examples are this way, but around 1/3 of them are so far.I stopped at around 80% of the way through.

Not what i'd hoped for
This book gives you the theorems, with examples of how to use the theorems.However i was disappointed because i was hoping to that it would make linear algebra clearer for me.Specifically, i was hoping for proof's of the theorems, which this book doesn't contain.It is a good reference book to look things up in, but not a book for obtaining a deeper understanding.

Great study guide / reference book!
I really, really don't like learning mathematics, but unfortunately some maths is required by my university's computer science course.

If you're a person like me who can't understand any of the stuff in your mathematics professor's cryptic notes, then I strongly advise you to buy this book. It's very easy to read (for a maths book), has examples explaining everything, and it's dirt cheap compared to the hardcore maths books out there which often contain too much information for a (undergraduate) student's needs! It has made studying and understanding linear algebra easy (as the title says), and it also got me through the exam the first time.

Here's what this book covers:

Chapter 1: Vectors in Rn
Chapter 2: Algebra of Matrices
Chapter 3: Systems of Linear Equations
Chapter 4: Vector Spaces
Chapter 5: Inner Product Spaces; Orthogonality
Chapter 6: Determinants
Chapter 7: Diagonalisation: Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
Chapter 8: Linear Mappings
Chapter 9: Canonical Forms

(this little book is, unlike the information given here, 156 pages long) ... Read more

Product Description
This top-selling, theorem-proof book presents a careful treatment of the principle topics of linear algebra, and illustrates the power of the subject through a variety of applications. It emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between linear transformations and matrices, but states theorems in the more general infinite-dimensional case where appropriate.Chapter topics cover vector spaces, linear transformations and matrices, elementary matrix operations and systems of linear equations, determinants, diagonalization, inner product spaces, and canonical forms.For statisticians and engineers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Crystal clear and fun
*First*
First, while this book does include rigorous (eg clear and complete) proofs, I posit that the book is not a dry tombe and not useless to non-maths students. The book includes enticing introductions to the essential use of linear algebra in Fourier series, differential equations, special relativity, and stochastic processes (with a wink to economics).

*Is this book a good way to startlin alg?*
Answer: possibly yes. Only because the first chapters can seem too axiomatic (at least they were to me when I was a first-year undergrad), I might suggest the more welcoming style of Gilbert Strang. But you decide; I'm not sure why some believe "rigorous proofs" are useless and why others believe "motivation" means no complete proofs (cf. other reviews here).

*Why this book?*
The organization of topics and clarity of exposition makes it well worth acquiring (eg online..).For example, the exercises are well-placed and often used in subsequent chapters. I really enjoyed the chapters on singular value decomposition and least-squares. Here, the examples are especially illustrative and the proofs of the principles provide insight into why things work. The "real-world" applications I cite above are also nicely presented intros. There is more to say here, but there are many more reviews...

*How have I used this book*
One instance: when working at a national lab, one of my projects involved fitting data and I used least-squares as a starting point. Wanting to remind myself about the inner-workings of least squares, I returned to this book and it helped me come up with other ideas to concoct a solution to my "real-world" problem. Also, I am currently studying arithmetic geometry and sometimes come back to it for matrix limits as they are used in distribution of eigenvalues (random matrix theory and function fields).

Like the Cryptonomicon of Linear Algebra books!
This book is absolutely amazing! It pretty much psychologically broke me down and built me back up again. It is extremely rigorous and dense, and is very effective. I highly appreciate the small size of the book making it easier to carry around and read.
There are a few caveats though:
You must be ready and willing to prove everything, including material in the book. Often, the proofs of theorems will be left for the problems section. But, if you make the effort, this will increase you theoretical math skills ten fold. Also, I love the fact that this book is so insane, and you might not appreciate that. I used it for a first course in Linear Algebra, which is probably not the ideal application. The book itself suggest that it be used for a graduate level course. I am actually kinda sad I got the paperback, because I will keep this book forever. If you are a professor looking at this book, it really is as versatile as it claims to be.

Linear Algebra
This linear algebra textbook is a good book. It has a nice look and feel to it. The author is able to convey the material in a straightforward and precise manner. For someone who is new to the topic, it would be helpful if all odd answers to the exercises were printed and not just a select few. The solutions requiring proofs are omitted. This is where students stumble the most.

It will do the job...
It's not a great book, but it will do the job. Just make sure you have a good teacher to fill in all the holes. That's another way of saying it's not a great book if you don't know what it's talking about, i.e. if you're learning from it. If you know the stuff, you'll be fine. You'd probably do better with the free linear algebra book offered online. Just do a search for it.

Excellent introductory text
Great first book on Linear Algebra. Doesn't bore you to tears with 100+ pages of matrix crunching before getting to something interesting. I particularly enjoyed the order of presentation, and the well-chosen applications. The book is heavily based around learning how to write proofs -- and it does a wonderful job in providing instructive examples for students on how to go about proving linear algebra theorems.

After reading this, I would go to a more in depth book, but you couldn't find a better place to start than Friedberg. ... Read more

Product Description
This revised and updated fourth edition designed for upper division courses in linear algebra includes the basic results on vector spaces over fields, determinants, the theory of a single linear transformation, and inner product spaces. While it does not presuppose an earlier course, many connections between linear algebra and calculus are worked into the discussion. A special feature is the inclusion of sections devoted to applications of linear algebra, which can either be part of a course, or used for independent study, and new to this edition is a section on analytic methods in matrix theory, with applications to Markov chains in probability theory. Proofs of all the main theorems are included, and are presented on an equal footing with methods for solving numerical problems. Worked examples are integrated into almost every section, to bring out the meaning of the theorems, and illustrate techniques for solving problems. Many numerical exercises make use of all the ideas, and develop computational skills, while exercises of a theoretical nature provide opportunities for students to discover for themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Terse text but easy exercises
As other readers have noted, this is your standard, terse, theorem-lemma-proof type math text.If you are approaching this text with your only mathematical background being a popular treatment of the calculus like those of Stewart or Larson, the style takes a lot of getting used to.Though a lot of effort is placed into making the text short and packed with information, it is impossible to sit down with this text (or any other upper-division math text, for that matter) and read passively.Curtis leaves out many details in the proofs and examples, asking the reader to follow the ordinary, though annoying, convention of theorem-lemma-proof texts and provide the details him(yes, him)self.

In my linear algebra class, we covered the equivalent of the first six chapters, though after the determinants chapter, we stopped following the ordering and pace of the text, and therefore, it's hard to tell whether the later chapters make an optimal teaching or self-study device.The first four chapters (up to determinants), however, take a theoretical approach to linear algebra with a few scattershot references to the geometric intuitions that it formalizes.

My biggest complaint is that in some points of the text, Curtis seems unsure of whether to continue in an informal or an abstract manner.Many of the exercises are numerical problems of the type you see in a non-proof linear algebra class focused on applications, and when Curtis gets to systems of linear equations, he seems confused about whether he is writing a book for a proof-based or a numerical class.As long as you are familiar with induction and proof by contradiction, the exercises that require proofs are fairly easy.Our professor constantly supplemented them with problems that were far more difficult than anything in Curtis.

Good Book for Introductory Linear Algebra
This is a fantastic resource for basic linear algebra. It covers the topics from a rather theoretical perspective, which lacks many examples or practical applications, but presents the theory better than most alternate books. The book does include some applications/advanced theory moving past the basic topics of solutions of systems, vector spaces, linear transformations, determinants, and orthogonality, which includes solving differential equations and basic symmetry theory. The book is short and sweet, which is good if you can handle more advanced math textbooks, but not good for those looking for detailed explanation (some of the proofs of basic concepts are even left up to the reader when appropriate). This book is better for those already familiar with the subject matter or those looking for a challenge.

Used for Self Study
I used this book for an independent study of linear algebra in undergrad.I'd had no prior exposure to the field, but had taken very good real analysis and abstract algebra courses prior.My self-study was quite effective, which is a testament to the book, since it was essentially the only material I had.(There were a few typos I remember seeing, as well as some unclear formulas/notation here and there, hence the four stars, but nothing serious).

Beautiful Work
I used this book for a first course in linear algebra at Ohio State University and I could not have been more satisfied.It is a challenging book to use, but very rewarding for those who put the time into it.

OK, but could be better.
The book sometimes eliminates using some symbols when the meaning is clear from the context; this is OK only if you either have prior understanding of the material presented or easy access to an expert. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic treatment of linear algebra presents the fundamentals in the clearest possible way, examining basic ideas by means of computational examples and geometrical interpretation. It proceeds from familiar concepts to the unfamiliar, from the concrete to the abstract. Readers consistently praise this outstanding text for its expository style and clarity of presentation. The applications version features a wide variety of interesting, contemporary applications. This book contains clear, accessible, step-by-step explanations that make the material crystal clear. It establishes the intricate thread of relationships between systems of equations, matrices, determinants, vectors, linear transformations and eigenvalues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not as comprehensive as I expected
The textbook itself I gave a high rating. I wouldn't bother with this solutions guide. It doesn't have many more solutions than what is alrady in the textbook. The only difference is that the solutions show you step by step how they were arrived (sometimes, though, only up to a certain point).

Long and short, you probably won't need this.

Good for first Reading
I think Elementary Linear Algebra by Anton is a god bok forlearning the subject. It clearly introduce the subject and it is easily understandable.

disapointed
It contains solutions only for selected odd exercises, and most of the solutions are very abbreviated.Despite these setbacks it is still better than no solutions manual. ... Read more

Product Description
Praise for the First Edition

". . .recommended for the teacher and researcher as well as for graduate students. In fact, [it] has a place on every mathematician's bookshelf." -American Mathematical Monthly

Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Second Edition presents linear algebra as the theory and practice of linear spaces and linear maps with a unique focus on the analytical aspects as well as the numerous applications of the subject. In addition to thorough coverage of linear equations, matrices, vector spaces, game theory, and numerical analysis, the Second Edition features student-friendly additions that enhance the book's accessibility, including expanded topical coverage in the early chapters, additional exercises, and solutions to selected problems.

Beginning chapters are devoted to the abstract structure of finite dimensional vector spaces, and subsequent chapters address convexity and the duality theorem as well as describe the basics of normed linear spaces and linear maps between normed spaces.

Further updates and revisions have been included to reflect the most up-to-date coverage of the topic, including:

• The QR algorithm for finding the eigenvalues of a self-adjoint matrix
  
• The Householder algorithm for turning self-adjoint matrices into tridiagonal form
• The compactness of the unit ball as a criterion of finite dimensionality of a normed linear space

Customer Reviews (5)

A good algebra book
I would recommend this book to those who have learned linear algebra long ago and plan to pick up some back.

This book gives an extremely concise introduction to the core of linear algebra(so not quite the best for beginners), without any redundant sentences in trivial calculation. Starting with linear map and ending in spectral resolution, different parts are united. It also advances with the times, include topics like duality, convexity, which is interesting from engineering perspective.

For those who only learn some elementary algebra in undergraduate, this book helps to make a big picture and to show some deep reason behind that.

concise and elegant, and also covers Banach spaces
I would compare this book with Paul Halmos' classic "Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces". Both books cover much in common, both in material and style. Each is slender and gracefully written. Lax takes us through many of the simple results and methods of linear algebra. Unlike Halmos, this book also covers computational aspects. A nod to the ever increasing prevalence of computers. The theorems are proven in a rigorous fashion. But with some attention, you should be able to follow the logic.

Lax also provides a discussion of Banach spaces - complete normed spaces. Whereas other linear algebra texts might focus more on Hilbert spaces, which are complete inner product spaces. The inner product is bilinear, which leads to easier analysis than for normed spaces. Which is perhaps why Banach spaces are typically not as well covered.

Excellent Graduate Presentation of Linear Algebra
I used to hate this book but it was due to inadequate presentation at the time I was first introduced to it.Over time it has become my favorite Linear Algebra text.Use Axler's "Linear Algebra Done Right" then move up to this text.Being able to do linear algebra at this level is crucial to anyone doing advanced mathematics, science, and engineering.Be sure to have it handy.

My first math book without picturse and examples
I used Lax in my honor linear algebra class as a college freshman. With not much previous experience in abstract math, this book could be a bit frustrating. However, if you really strive to understand what each sentence really means, it's not all that difficult. This is a very concise book and at times I spent hours reading one page. My class didn't end up covering the whole book, but I finished it on my own the summer following my freshman year. Now I feel very confident about linear algebra and it led to my later more in-depth study in algebra.

Best Linear Algebra Review Book
Linear Algebra is one of the most basic topics in science and engineering. Everyone takes an undergraduate course, but few science/engineering graduate students have mastery of the material upon entering grad school. Ifind that Lax's book is an excellent book to recommend to our graduatestudents for self review. The few but very well chosen topics and thestraightforward yet deep way they are covered make the book engaging,thought provoking, and easily followed by upper level undergrads andbeginning grad students. A student with a mastery of the material in thisbook will have little trouble with grad courses in the many engineering andscience courses that rely on linear algebra. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic treatment of linear algebra presents the fundamentals in the clearest possible way, examining basic ideas by means of computational examples and geometrical interpretation. It proceeds from familiar concepts to the unfamiliar, from the concrete to the abstract. Readers consistently praise this outstanding text for its expository style and clarity of presentation.

• The applications version features a wide variety of interesting, contemporary applications.
• Clear, accessible, step-by-step explanations make the material crystal clear.
• Established the intricate thread of relationships between systems of equations, matrices, determinants, vectors, linear transformations and eigenvalues.

Customer Reviews (5)

not the best
This is the textbook I was required to buy; but because of its sloppy content, I was compelled to buy other books. This may be also due to the fact that my professor is inadequate. However, if you are like me and take responsibility for your learning, consider Linear Algebra by Larson. I bought an older edition for almost nothing. It is so much more thorough and clear.

Easy to understand and good homework problems
I just used this book in the Spring '09 semester for the first half of Linear Algebra (my school likes to take forever to get through things, consequently, we have Linear Algebra I and II).

The book was easy to read and understand and the homework problems were pretty good (but at times laborious). It also had a lot of good background information and examples of how this type of mathematics is used today in research and industry.

I got a 3.0/4.0 in the course, so I'm pleased. I would recommend this book for your college.

Rough Journey.
This is the text I used this previous semester for my Linear Algebra class. I had no linear algebra background before taking this class. That being said, this was one of the roughest classes I've ever got through only because the book kept going against the grain in every way possible. I didn't even begin to understand the entire point of linear algebra until about chapter 7 and 8 when the chapters started going into the general cases, and even now, I know how to "solve" all the problems without even knowing their meaning, which seems totally pointless to me. The selected answers to the problems in the book are in no particular pattern. It's not "all odds" or "all evens"; it's just scattered and it made doing homework a nightmare. I felt like I was back in elementary school while reading this book, because back then all I did was learn "methods" of solving problems without understanding "why". The book almost never discussed the purpose or main idea of the subjects it discussed. The "explanations" it gave would be based off of other vague topics. For example "What is the Eigenvector Problem? Well, the eigenvector problem asks if there is a basis for R^n in a nXn matrix consisting of eigenvectors of said matrix", OK so What's a basis? "A basis a set of vectors for a vector space S is linearly independant and/or set that spans the space S" and the cycle kept hitting me with one definition after another without giving me a big picture or anything. A bit of the book is about "applications" of linear algebra, but doesn't help until you've understood the meat of the book that came beforehand. Also, there were no teachers' solutions manuals available when I took this class, because the distributers have been extremely lax about getting them out (why? who knows). I'm not just saying this book is bad because I was lazy and didn't do well. I worked extremely hard to do "well" in this class. I must have read this book twice through and like I said before, I can solve all the problems but please don't ask me to explain their significance or validate their existence, because I can't. STAY AWAY!

Learn-by-rote Linear Algebra (8th edition)
At my university, David Lay's book is used. They experimented with Anton's (this), and now they're back to Lay's Linear Algebra. Insofar as a Linear Algebra is taught relying heavily on matrixes, I can compare this book with 3 other books: David Lay's; Terry Lawson's; and the one by Hans Schneider and George Barker (Dover book, very cheap). Anton's Linear Algebra has the least theory of all 4. It results in an even poorer product than his Calculus book. Truth be told, I did not use Anton's book, and neither do I wish to. I've suffered too much of his "style" from Calculus, and I saw enough of his Linear Algebra to want to risk jeopardizing my study effort to delve into his book. I'll stick with my other 3 books, thank you very much If you must know: as to what regards "theoretical bent", the order is: Schneider > Lawson > Lay > Anton. Applications: Schneider < Lawson ~ Lay < Anton, but only because Anton's discussions are a little more extensive (not by a great margin). Applications really seems to be its strong point, spanning more than 100 pages in a single chapter, with many interesting and somewhat detailed discussions on "Real World" (to use a term dear to Computer Science types) applications: ecology, graph theory, computer tomography, etc. (none of which you'll learn from this book, by the way, each is a field of its own). I can't recommend it, except as a curiosity.

starts with tangible topics
Anton is now in the 9th edition of this book. Spanning decades of refinement. What you get is a very polished and well written text, that has incorporated feedback from generations of students.

The book starts by describing matrix manipulations and determinants. These are very tangible things to most maths students. Accordingly, explaining how to take determinants or to invert a matrix lets you build confidence in your knowledge. Also, these topics lends themselves readily to many problems for you to do.

After this, the book heads into more abstract territory. Null and range spaces and the rank nullity theorem, for example. You are exposed to the concept of an abstract vector space. Which invariably some students always trip over. So the grounding in the early chapters can mitigate this awkwardness.

The last chapter touches lightly on the interesting applications, like chaos and fractals. But mostly to pique your interest in proceeding further in the field. ... Read more

Product Description

This book begins with an exposition of the basic theory of vector spaces and proceeds to explain the fundamental structure theorem for linear maps, including eigenvectors and eigenvalues, quadratic and hermitian forms, diagnolization of symmetric, hermitian, and unitary linear maps and matrices, triangulation, and Jordan canonical form. Material in this new edition has been rewritten and reorganized and new exercises have been added.

Customer Reviews (7)

Strong concise book for linear algebra over the Complex numbers
Lang's Linear Algebra is one of my favorite undergraduate math books.The style is concise and clear, and the approach is rather rigorous. I found the chapters on polynomials particularly interesting.

Minor complaints: (1) I would rather Lang have done the book over general (e.g. finite) fields rather than sticking with subfields of the complex numbers.That way it would be more clear which results truly rely on results in Complex analysis and which rely only on the fact that the every n-degree polynomial over the complex numbers has n roots. (2) A couple more examples involving function vector spaces would have been interesting. Although all-in-all he strikes a great balance for as short a book as this is.

Difficult for undergrads
I think the term "undergraduate" is a bit misleading.I think you would have had to have at least one course in linear algebra and abtract algebra to truly appreciate this book.I read it over a summer (as a master's student who lacked any coursework in linear algebra) - kind of as an independent project, and I found it to be very easy to understand.Then again, I had just taken abstract algebra.There were a couple parts that I found challenging though.I love it when he says that the proof or rest of the proof is "trivial" and unnecessary to write.I have heard he does this in many of his books.Overall great book if you have some background.

Solid piece of work
Like in other math books by Lang, the theory of Linear Algebra is presented in an axiomatic way, the best way of presenting since The Elements of Euclid. The way in which the theory is presented adds to the beauty. I have read this book as a refresher for Linear Algebra, about 20 years after the completion of a master's degree in an exact science. For me the level was perfect. If you have no experience with Linear Algebra beyond high school, you must first read "Introduction to Linear Algebra" by Lang or some other introductory course. The book under review does not talk about basics like Gauss-elimination. I have seen remarkably few typos. Some cross-references to theorems in other chapters were wrong, though. In all: a very good book and well worth the money.

Serge Lang is a Very Gifted Expositor
Serge Lang is a very gifted expositor. I've read the reviews saying that his books are notorious for their "dryness". At least as concerns this book - that couldn't be less true.

This book is not only methodical and well written, it is a joy. Every section is a well rounded presentation: Lang clearly and effectively introduces new concepts and patiently develops even the most basic results. But Lang achieves much more: his illuminating examples are stepping stones to a more abstract understanding.

Enjoying this book is like enjoying anything of high quality and craftsmanship. Admittedly, that is not always for everyone to enjoy.

This Book Is Almost Excellent
I had this book as the text for my second course in Abstract Algebra, having already taken some elementary Linear Algebra course. I might argue that this is not the best subject for such a course, yet this is very irrelevant here.

All through the class I struggled to understand concepts. I did not. That was not due to the book since I did not even bother opening it. After finishing the course, I realized that the material of this book is of the most importance to anyone planning on continuing his/her grad degree in math, so I decided to read the book. The mission was accomplished in a matter of a couple of weeks.

I do not claim that this is the easiest book to understand the material. In fact, Lang's books are remarked for their dryness. Motivation is almost nonextant. If you, however, have a fairly good background in Linear Algebra (something like the material of Anton's "Elementary Linear Algebra" or the like) and Abstract Algebra (an excellent introduction can be sought in Herstein's "Abstract Algebra") you would much benefit from this book.

The book is a very good book for a second course in linear algebra, that is, it is not a good book for those who had no experience with matrix theory before. The reason is that the book does not mention anything about Gaussian elimination and treats the solutions of n equations in m unknowns using dimension theorems, which is not the standard way of proving existence of such solutions. One more thing is that it does not talk about elementary matrices (one can interpret column or row operations by multiplication of elementary matrices to the right or left). I am not saying the book
is bad, I am saying it is not the right book for a beginner.

The book introduces the basic notions of vector spaces, linear mappings, matrices scalar products, determinants, and eigenvalues and spaces. It then moves to unitary, symmetric, and Hermitian operators and explores their Eigenvalues. Polynomials have a whole chapter followed by triangulation of a linear map. The book concludes with applications of Linear algebra to convex geometry.

I might disagree with the definition of the determinant the author offers, but I would have to admit that his approach is the traditional one.

The subjects of the books must be mastered (or at least absorbed) by anyone who wants to go to analysis (Functional analysis to be precise), Algebra, Geometry, and Differential Equations. To ensure this you should do almost all the exercises of the book since they are so excellent and help a lot in understanding the material presented. ... Read more

Product Description
This second edition of the author s acclaimed textbook covers the major topics of computational linear algebra, including solution of a system of linear equations, least-squares solutions of linear systems, computation of eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and singular value problems.

Important features of the original edition have been updated and improved. Drawing from numerous disciplines of science and engineering, the author covers a variety of motivating applications. When a physical problem is posed, the scientific and engineering significance of the solution is clearly stated. Each chapter contains a summary of the important concepts developed in that chapter, suggestions for further reading, and numerous exercises, both theoretical and MATLAB® and MATCOM based. The author also provides a list of key words for quick reference.

The MATLAB toolkit MATCOM contains implementations of the major algorithms associated with the book and enables students to study different algorithms for the same problem, comparing efficiency, stability, and accuracy. Additional online content includes appendices containing MATLAB codes and the MATCOM toolkit solutions to selected problems as well as an extra chapter on special topics.

The topics of generalized and quadratic eigenvalue problems, which arise in practical engineering applications, are described in great detail. This feature, along with an important overview of Krylov subspace methods and an extensively updated bibliography, enhances the book s value as a reference for both engineers and students.

Audience: This book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students in applied and computational mathematics, scientific computing, computer science, financial mathematics, actuarial sciences, and electrical and mechanical engineering. It will also appeal to researchers in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, statistics, and aerospace, electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering as well as practicing engineers and industrial mathematicians.

Contents: Preface; Chapter 1: Linear Algebra Problems, Their Importance, and Computational Difficulties; Chapter 2: A Review of Some Required Concepts from Core Linear Algebra; Chapter 3: Floating Point Numbers and Errors in Computations; Chapter 4: Stability of Algorithms and Conditioning of Problems; Chapter 5: Gaussian Elimination and LU Factorization; Chapter 6: Numerical Solutions of Linear Systems; Chapter 7: QR Factorization, Singular Value Decomposition, and Projections; Chapter 8: Least-Squares Solutions to Linear Systems; Chapter 9: Numerical Matrix Eigenvalue Problems; Chapter 10: Numerical Symmetric Eigenvalue Problem and Singular Value Decomposition; Chapter 11: Generalized and Quadratic Eigenvalue Problems; Chapter 12: Iterative Methods for Large and Sparse Problems: An Overview; Chapter 13: Key Terms in Numerical Linear Algebra; Bibliography; Index ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good Idea, Poor Implementation
This book is fairly easy to read and covers the subject in a logical order.However the examples and problems are rife with errors and inconsistent nomenclature--making this a hard book to use as a text.

Don't waste your money!
This was the required text for a graduate course I had in numerical linear algebra. The 1st edition of this book has hundreds of errors! I don't know if they corrected them in this edition. I learned nothing from this book; It is poorly written.

There is far too much emphasis on LU factorization. Not enough information on sparse iterative methods. In most numerical applications you don't have a full matrix, you have a sparse one. I have been able to sucessfully implement sparse iterative solvers from other books. Some of paperbacks by SIAM are pretty good at that.

As good if not better than the standard texts out there
This book is pedagocially sound and extremely informative, and offers a welcome alternative to the standards of the field like Trefethen/Bau and Demmel.

A very resourceful and readable book on this subject
While there are many books on Numerical Linear Algebra at various levels, Datta's book is very resourceful and carefully prepared for classroom use. The book is very readable and the students would love it. The organization of the topics, the method of presentation, historical background at thebeginning of each chapter, lucid examples, comprehensive and detailedproofs for almost all Theorems, useful MATLAB exercises for almost all thecomputational methods presented in the book make this book very suitablefor classroom adoptation. Datta has given lots of good references (booksand journal articles) at the end of each chapter, which are useful forfurther research on the major topics. It is a very nice and well-writtenbook. The only suggestion that I have is to add more details on KrylovSpace methods and such topics, and make this book suitable for a wideraudience. I recommend this book strongly.

excellent adv undergrad text on numerical linear algebra
Great for classroom and self study. One of the few texts to give step by step examples on almost all of its algorithms,which can be carried out on most hand held calculators. An essential step in the learning process. This book makes learning Numerical Linear Algebra as exciting as it really is. ... Read more

Product Description

Known for its real-world applications that grab readers' interest, this proven reference offers a full treatment of linear algebra. Discusses mathematical modeling of real-world phenomena, with a fresh new computational and qualitative flavor evident throughout in figures, examples, problems, and applications. Integrates scientific computing environments like Maple, Mathematica, and MATLAB. Extensively rewrites key sections with a fresh qualitative approach. Adds approximately 300 new computer-generated figures. Adds approximately 300 new or revised problems, many with a qualitative emphasis. A comprehensive reference for anyone who needs to improve their linear algebra skills.

Customer Reviews (13)

A great text
This book might seem a little bit wordy sometimes, but the author has a great ability to explain complex concepts typically presented in an introductory differential equations course (e.g. Numerical Analysis). It also features an OUTSTANDING coverage of different real-word applications using mathematical software such as Maple.

Terrible solutions manual, DON'T PURCHASE!
As with most "official" solutions manuals, this one is pretty much junk.It contains "full" solutions to only odd problems, and those "fully" solutions generally skip steps, assume that you've already mastered the concepts (which you obviously haven't at this level), and on occasion, don't even solve problems the way the book recommends.Instead of purchasing a solutions manual for this DiffieEq book, I'd just recommend using Cramster.For free they've got AWESOME solutions to all odds which clearly explain what's going on, and for ten bucks a month they got you covered on all the evens as well.For some reason this site is not as well-known as it should be, but save yourself some money and headaches and check it out before buying crappy solutions manuals.Just Google "Cramster" and you'll be set!!

Very skimpy comments
Besides providing solutions to the problems, this manuel has very few comments.The book is OK for answer check, but not good at all for comments on the problems and solutions.

This solutions manual is only minimally helpful...
A good student solutions manual will go through all of the steps of a problem, and show how to solve it.This book skips steps and key ideas.It's not a very good solutions manual.The textbook which it is the solutions manual for is not a well done book, as the problem sets consist of problems which differ enough from the examples that they are frustrating even if you work through and understand all of the examples.The subject of the text is 'differential equations', not 'tricky advanced algebra'.Yet in one of the more difficult fundamental sections (section 1.6, substitution methods), several of the problems, including the first problem, require some not obvious algebraic manipulation to set up and solve.This is not reflected in any of the examples, and it is not shown in this solutions guide - they skip this step.

Fine explanation, but Bad Quality
The quality of the explanations in the book are fine.You can learn from it.I learned just fine from the book, as a supplement to attending lectures.What I'm not happy about is that I ordered this book new in late August and come December the cover is already coming off.Why?I didn't put any unusual stress on this book.I have had plenty of hard cover books in my life, many of which were used by students for years before I put my hands on it.Sure, some pages were torn on those books, but the cover was always fine.So when I pay for a hard cover book, I want it to last.This will kill my re-sell value.And I would have brought it to the attention of Amazon or Pearson to save them a bad review but I couldn't figure out how to contact either one. ... Read more

Product Description
From one of the premier authors in higher education comes a new linear algebra textbook that fosters mathematical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and exposure to real-world applications. Without sacrificing mathematical precision, Anton and Busby focus on the aspects of linear algebra that are most likely to have practical value to the student while not compromising the intrinsic mathematical form of the subject. Throughout Contemporary Linear Algebra, students are encouraged to look at ideas and problems from multiple points of view. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book
My university started using this book recently. I had an a fantastic Instructor. My instructor was using this book for the first time. I haven't used anyother book besides this and I liked it. Book contains rigrous proofs. We also had Maple labs to supplement the course. After going through the proofs I could do the exercises. There are 4 different categories of exercises. First are just plain application of what you have studied. Then ther is dicussion and discovery section. After that there is Working with Proofs and the last one is technology Exercies which requires one to use Maple, Matlab or Graphing Calculator. Overall the book helped me understand the subject so I have no hesitation in giving it 5 stars.

Not well written and hard to understand
The book is not well written, and hard to understand. Not suggested for reading or reference. The problems are joke, easy, and is designed for student who doesn't understand math clearly. I suggest if you want buy the book for linear algebra buy hoffman/kunze. That book is a bible for linear algebra. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic treatment of linear algebra presents the fundamentals in the clearest possible way, examining basic ideas by means of computational examples and geometrical interpretation. It proceeds from familiar concepts to the unfamiliar, from the concrete to the abstract. Readers consistently praise this outstanding text for its expository style and clarity of presentation.

• Clear, accessible, step-by-step explanations make the material crystal clear.
• The authors spotlight the relationships between concepts to give a unified and complete picture.
• Established the intricate thread of relationships between systems of equations, matrices, determinants, vectors, linear transformations and eigenvalues.

Customer Reviews (14)

satisfied
Book was a little more worn than expected. Delivery was very prompt. Satisfied with purchase; would buy again.

Good over all
This book was very new and had no problems.It was a great book and shipment was fast.

Do not even open it
This is the worst LA book I have ever seen.
I would not imagine why any instructor would choose it as a text for the class unless he is paid for it.
Horrible book with horrible exercises (just pile of pencil pushers with no thinking involved).

bad book
i'm an engineering major and this is the worst textbook i have used for any math/science class

Book causes unneeded frustration
I am currently taking an Elementary Linear Algebra class for college and this book is beyond frustrating. The book barely covers any basics and examples are few and useless. The exercise sets provided are beyond the text and examples provided in the book. Even after purchasing a solution manual, the problems make little sense. Similar to another reviewer of this book, I have resorted to online discussion boards and youtube videos to compliment the lectures from class. ... Read more

Product Description

Designed to elevate the analytical and problem-solving skills of engineering students, this text provides systematic instruction that will allow those students to make full use of the advanced capacities that MATLAB^® provides. Based on the applied experience of two leading industry consultants in signal and image processing and circuit analysis, this textbook is designed to support the highly regarded courses the two teach at RIT. Offering a broad selection of progressive exercises and MATLAB problems, each chapter features carefully chosen examples that demonstrate underlying ideas at work in practical scenarios. A complete solutions manual is provided for qualifying instructors.

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Book for a Complex Subject
I got this tome as my textbook for a graduate-level Mechanical Engineering course. I entered grad school last fall after about 35 years in the workforce, so I am far more sensitive to the quality of textbooks than I was in my youth.
Anyhow, I have been through the first chapter of Advanced Linear Algebra in detail and have scanned the other five. On the whole, I find that the text does a very good job of explaining matrixes, vectors, and such and their use in engineering.
It is written from an engineering perspective rather than that of a mathmetician, which is a very good thing for us engineering students. Math majors, sickos that they are, will prefer something much more obtuse. The examples used seemto be slanted toward the Electrical Engineering discipline, so they are of less use to me.
All in all, a good textbook. ... Read more

Product Description
This book presents the basic ideas of linear algebra in a manner that users will find understandable. It offers a fine balance between abstraction/theory and computational skills, and gives readers an excellent opportunity to learn how to handle abstract concepts. Included in this comprehensive and easy-to-follow manual are these topics: linear equations and matrices; solving linear systems; real vector spaces; inner product spaces; linear transformations and matrices; determinants; eigenvalues and eigenvectors; differential equations; and MATLAB for linear algebra. Because this book gives real applications for linear algebraic basic ideas and computational techniques, it is useful as a reference work for mathematicians and those in field of computer science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Terrible book
The book gives little explanation on key ideas of chapters.

The questions the book gives are difficult. I had to ask my friend to help me with the problems, and it turned out it was actually very easy. What made it crazy hard to do the problems in the book was because the book fails at explaining what are the important points and what are not the so important points.

What it fails to give compared to other texts:
-Point out the key points. (The book gives the key point very subtly)
-Gives more examples for problems. (The book does give some examples but most of it are just proving theorems. Other books do this too but at least gives other better example that students could refer to when answering the questions.)

Horribly written, terrible examples, worst textbook I own
I was forced to use this book for my linear algebra course at UW-Madison.When I saw the poor reviews for it, I figured it would be wise to check out some other texts to supplement this and I am so glad that I did.If you are using this book to learn Linear Algebra, you have my sincere condolences because it is terribly written and the examples are in no way useful.I found Schaum's Beginning Linear Algebra and Anton's book on Linear Algebra (from which I believe Kolman and Hill poorly copied) infinitely more helpful. If you MUST use this book, get it from inter-library loan, don't let anyone make a single penny more on it.Other useful sources of information on Linear Algebra include: Gilbert Strang's Linear Algebra book and his lectures [...]

the worst textbook i have had to date..


Next to having a professor that couldn't speak english, this textbook was not at all helpful.

First off, it doesn't show how it comes up with it's answers, the book seemed scattered and was ineffective in self teaching.I had to subsidize my learning with online notes from another professor to even understand some of the material.

The funny thing is, you have to buy an additional solutions manual, WHAT A RIP OFF!!?

I've had so many better textbooks...Linear Algebra and it's corresponding text taught me to hate mathematics.

Pity the fool......
.... who is given this as a course textbook. It's touted as an applications book so it's going to get inflicted on non-math majors. Now I'm not saying that proofs are not important, but please give me the intuition and some good examples first. A favourite trick is to give a question which is unclearly drafted and then allow the poor sucker who has to answer it to wade through lemma after proof after corollary trying to find either an explanation or rarer still a relevant example. Makes the subject far harder than it needs to be and is an impediment to learning. AWFUL simply AWFUL.

Ideal Introduction to the Subject
There are some fairly justified complaints about Kolman's text. Some claim that it is too computational to be of any use to a budding mathematician, and others, that its expository is insufficient to be of use for those in other fields. There are a number of purely computational excersices, but there is no shortage of mathematical rigor in this text. All of the essential theorems are properly presented and constructed, and the subsequent examples are nicely divided between proofs and their application. This text may not be as exhaustive as others, but all of the core material is there. As for those who do not intend to pursue further studies in math, it offers a plethora of related applications including finance, physics, and chemistry. This is a mature textbook, now in it's ninth edition, and it certainly shows. Tougher concepts presented in a number of ways, while simpler ones are kept brief. As for lacking in rigor, I would rebut this claim. The early exercises are often computational, and can be skipped in favor of the later ones which are as rigorous as I have seen. When I first encountered the subject I was already familiar with much of the material, so I opted to go through each of the challenge exercises. At every theorem, I woudl first attempt my own proof, and then compare it with the one offered. If you take the time to do the more difficult problems, you will find yourself more than ready for upper level mathematical courses. You will not find a more palatable introduction to algebraic structures. Compared to other texts, this text is very readable. In short, it is a comprehensive text will challenge its readers. This is the third version of the text to find its way into my library. Recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
When it comes to learning linear algebra, engineers trust Anton. The tenth edition presents the key concepts and topics along with engaging and contemporary applications. The chapters have been reorganized to bring up some of the more abstract topics and make the material more accessible. More theoretical exercises at all levels of difficulty are integrated throughout the pages, including true/false questions that address conceptual ideas. New marginal notes provide a fuller explanation when new methods and complex logical steps are included in proofs. Small-scale applications also show how concepts are applied to help engineers develop their mathematical reasoning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Shipped Quick
Book came in condition it was said, Brand New. I would definitely recommend Amazon as a seller.

Book is a Rip Off
This book from amazon is a rip off. It didn't come with the codes to access the online content which cost like 65 dollars more.Considering it is already almost 120, and it is only like 30 more dollars to buy it from the books store and then you get the codes, it is a rip off.It should state it doesn't come with the codes for online content.All the new books are suppose to otherwise what is the point in buying it new.

Execllent Easy to Read
The examples in this book are great.All concepts in the text are explained clearly with many examples for the reader to review.I consider this text to be one of the best that I have used.This text is not only a great text to be used in the classroom, but it is so easy to understand that I also recommend this text for individual learning.

Okay if required, but
The Anton book appears to be the standard in teaching undergrad LA, but I personally didn't like it very much. Part of the problem is due to several misprints in the early chapters. Some of the definitions of basic concepts are confusing at best, wrong at the worst. I found myself relying on the Hubbard-Hubbard "Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Forms" to get through the course. The explanations were more concise and easier to understand. If you're teaching yourself, Hubbard-Hubbard is the way to go.

Okay if required, but
The Anton book appears to be the standard in teaching undergrad LA, but I personally didn't like it very much. Part of the problem is due to several misprints in the early chapters. Some of the definitions of basic concepts are confusing at best, wrong at the worst. I found myself relying on the Hubbard-Hubbard "Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Forms" to get through the course. The explanations were more concise and easier to understand. If you'r eteaching yourself, Hubbard-Hubbard is the way to go. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Linear Algebra with applications by leon
This is a good linear algebra book for those who are a little bit more advanced, and who have a good background in the language of mathematics.
This book has a theoretical emphasis rather than applicable on a chapter to chapter basis even thought that it is title with applications because it does contain applications of the theory in every chapters, actually it contains lots of applications, but the actual teaching of the theory is more theoretical than other books. Is a very good book, but if you are buying a book to learn the basics of linear algebra this one might be a little confusing for the reader that does not contain a solid math background.
In other words it is a book written for students with a little bit more mathematical maturity. perhaps for students at the junior level of a mathematical bachelor, rather than for the engineers.
But it is a great book with "proofs" and "applications" is great. ... Read more

Product Description
Contains the complete solutions, including proofs, for every third problem in each exercise set. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Linear Algebra
This book was in fairly good condition when it arrived.It was fairly quick as well.

excellent!
pretty fast shipping and the book was in great condition!
(the mailman shoved it into my mailbox though...)

FAST FAST FAST!!
It came EXTREMELY fast. I am very happy with my purchase. It was a used book and the description was true to the word. I will definitely buy from this seller again. Thanks a lot!

Great book.
Taking Linear Algebra for the first time and using this textbook.

I found reading each section and looking at the examples extremely helpful.It was clear and concise.After going through the section, the homework problems presented were a breeze.I think it's a great book to learn from.

A Fair Treatment
The book presents linear algebra problems pretty much in outline form---an "ok" treatment for some, but not all, of the subject matter.Nevertheless, there are still many topic areas where the explanations are not thorough enough.
Also,its treatment of theorems is not accompanied by a step-by-step explanaton of a problem that relates to it.
After all, this book is supposed to be an aid for students taking this subject for the first time.

I have found a few editing type errors--in some problems: wrong signs, numbers misplaced.This seems to be an omnipresent problem with many of these type books.WHO IS OUT THERE DOING THE FINAL REVIEWS?

I think this subject matter needs some type of video teaching component, but good luck trying to find one.

I think the book has its advantages, but mainly to those already immersed in the subject matter of matrices and determinants, vectors and space. A didactic tool it is not!
... Read more

Product Description
The Study Guide is based on David Lay's many years in the classroom, and has been updated so students can take full advantage of the new projects and data in the Updated Second Edition of the text. This guide gives the worked-out solutions to model problems that correspond with exercises in the text, along with study tips, hints to students, instructions for using MATLAB along with the text, additional MATLAB exercises, and expanded coverage of some text material. Maple and Mathematica appendices have been added, and the TI appendix has been updated to include coverage of the TI-86. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

promising textbook
I just used this book for an undergraduate LA course.

Most of the book is remarkably clear and straight-forward.For example, the authors manage to avoid sigma notation entirely in the proofs.The book has a nicebalance of applications, computer work and theory. Before taking the courseI did some work in Anton's 7th edition.The definitions and theorems inNakos/Joyner are much clearer and less wordy than Anton's.

The book stillhas a lot of rough edges, though.Typos abound and the text is murky insome spots.I think this would be an excellent text for an undergraduatecourse if the instructor used it with a critical eye to its weak spots. The second edition, if there is one, should be much more polished and,perhaps, a good choice for self study. ... Read more