Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (Dover Books on Mathematics) [Paperback]

John W. Dettman (Author), Mathematics (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1986 | ISBN-10: 0486651916 | ISBN-13: 978-0486651910

Excellent introductory text for students with one year of calculus. Topics include complex numbers, determinants, orthonormal bases, symmetric and hermitian matrices, first order non-linear equations, linear differential equations, Laplace transforms, Bessel functions and boundary-value problems. Includes 48 black-and-white illustrations. Exercises with solutions. Index.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (December 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486651916
• ISBN-13: 978-0486651910
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Physicists, May 25, 2001

By 

Alexander R. Small (Pomona, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

I am a physicist, and as a sophomore in college I was warned by the juniors: "Learn linear algebra!!!! They hardly teach any of it in the required math classes, and you'll die in quantum without it!!!" So I studied this book. Even without doing many of the problems I got a clear grasp of what a vector space is, why it is more than mere formalism, what a linear transformation is, the significance of bases, diagonalization, and how to work with matrices and really understand them. All of this was indispensable in studying quantum mechanics.

Of course, solving the problems will only help your understanding. I HIGHLY recommend this for any physics student who had a bad (or non-existent) linear algebra class.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for reference or self study, January 27, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

The book is easy to read. Dettman manages to find an excellent balance between formal proof and informal explanation. The first two chapters on Complex Numbers and Linear Algebraic Equations are particularly good, and this has become the first book I usually reach for if I need to look up something about matrices. Matrix notation is used throughout the book for topics such as linear transformations and systems of equations. There are hints and answers to about half the exercises at the end of the book, making it very helpful for self study.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only the first half is good, September 13, 2006

By 

Gordon Worley (Orlando, FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (Dover Books on Mathematics) (Paperback)

The first half of this book is good. Although Dettman does occasionally skip nonobvious steps, he does a good job of introducing the reader to complex numbers, matrices, and linear algebra. The second half, though, concerning differential equations is awful. I originally got this book to teach myself these two subjects over the summer and shortly into Chapter 5 I had to give it up and switch material; the explanation is murky and the presentation confusing: it only really makes sense after you go somewhere else and learn differential equations, then come back and look at it again.

If you want to learn linear algebra, you can't go wrong with this book, although there are better choices out there. If you want to learn differential equations, this is not the book for you.