Customer Reviews

Elementary Linear Algebra

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I used Anton in my linear algebra class a few years back and I have referred to it often since. Anton's approach is to introduce the notation and basic tools, i.e. vector and matrix arithmetic, within the intuitive geometric settings of the Euclidean plane and space. Once the basic concepts of Euclidean vector spaces have been mastered, Anton moves into abstract vector spaces, linear transformations, and eigenvectors. One chapter is spent on complex matrices, and another chapter deals with numerical issues and least-squares applications. The only topic which is noticably missing is the singular value decomposition, but other than that, Anton is a remarkably complete text. The definitions and theorems are clearly presented, along with the motivating intuitions. The exercises at the end of the chapter sections are a nice balance between computational and theoretical problems. Overall I highly recommend Anton as a first linear algebra text.

I've been teaching out of Anton's Linear Algebra books for 17 years, and I'm especially impressed with the 8th edition. Difficult concepts are visited again and again in increasing levels of abstraction, easing students into them. I'm amazed at the organization of topics. I'm able to deliver punch lines arrive several times a day: "Now we see why we learned this yesterday. Here's something we saw a while back, remember this?"

As always, the writing style is clear and the exercises are well-chosen. I can't imagine teaching linear algebra with any other author.

This is where it all began for me: my first course in abstract algebra. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and being challenged by its exercises. Learning that a vector space could be a set of anything satisfying certain algebraic properties opened my mind to modern mathematics. 15 years later, I still sometimes reference this book.

This is the best introduction on linear algebra. The book goes form the arithmetic of matrices to complex vector spaces. It covers every thing at a basic level and it doesn't leave out anything important. What I like most about the book, is that it's examples are both geometric and algebraic, so it appeals to many people with different thinking styles. The book really is an intro to modern math, because it has very UNDERSTANDIBLE PROOFS, and you lean information that can be later applied to more advanced versions of algebra. You don't really need and previous knowledge to understand this text. For those who can't wait after calculus 3 to learn linear algebra, I recommend this book.

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.

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.

This book is a didactic gem. It constitutes one of the best introductions that I know on the Elementary Linear Algebra. If you don't know anything about Linear Algebra, neither you have an enough background as to begin to study this matter, then this it is the book that you need. The book is self contained and the only thing that you need to study it it is elementary algebra, in which is included simultaneous lineal equations with two or three variables and its graphic solution. With that it will be enough so that you understand the book. Understanding this book will be able to try with other texts more advanced as that of Shilov, Mirsky and Noble. The text constitutes an elementary introduction to the topic, but I assure you that it is one of the best. In each part, Howard assumes that your you don't understand anything and then it selects examples that clarify the point in discussion. As it is natural, you won't find anything of rigor along the whole book: the theorems demonstrate them in intuitive form, in such a way that the student has very clear the content of the theorem. Then it enunciates and demonstrates it with the simple steps of a ordered demonstration already done and fixed in the mind of the student. It is a book written exclusively for the student in general, it doesn't for students of Engineering or pure sciences who surely found it too easy.

The book is full with exercises whose answer found at the end of the text. The last chapter will be very interesting for those students that want to be interested in the numeric analysis.

This is the best introduction on linear algebra. The book goes form the arithmetic of matrices to complex vector spaces. It covers every thing at a basic level and it doesn't leave out anything important. What I like most about the book, is that it's examples are both geometric and algebraic, so it appeals to many people with different thinking styles. The book really is an intro to modern math, because it has very UNDERSTANDIBLE PROOFS, and you lean information that can be later applied to more advanced versions of algebra. You don't really need and previous knowledge to understand this text. For those who can't wait after calculus 3 to learn linear algebra, I recommend this book.

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.