Introduction to Linear Algebra, Second Edition [Hardcover]

Gilbert Strang (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: Wellesley-Cambridge Press; 2nd edition (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961408855
• ISBN-13: 978-0961408855
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gilbert Strang is Professor of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an Honorary Fellow of Balliol College. He was an undergraduate at MIT and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. His doctorate was from UCLA and since then he has taught at MIT. He has been a Sloan Fellow and a Fairchild Scholar and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Professor Strang has published a monograph with George Fix, "An Analysis of the Finite Element Method", and has authored six widely used textbooks. He served as President of SIAM during 1999 and 2000 and he is Chair of the U.S. National Committee on Mathematics for 2003-2004.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what is needed, November 4, 2003

By 

G. Cantor "Base three" (Mill Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Linear Algebra, Second Edition (Hardcover)

Dr. Strang's book is, hands down, the best introductory Linear Algebra text on the planet. Other reviewers complain about the "discovery" approach and the conversational style; in my view, these are strengths not flaws.

First of all, we have lost our way with modern mathematics texts by all but eliminating the idea of discovery. Nothing can strengthen the learning and understanding of mathematical material more than having to "find out for yourself" what is going on. Absent that process, one can only reach a superficial understanding of the topic at best.

Second, it's refreshing to see a truly conversational approach. Once again, there are too many dry definition-theorem-proof texts out there ... they're maybe appropriate for a more advanced exposition, not for an introduction.

In many ways I agree with Dr. Strang that we teach too much calculus and not enough linear algebra. The former has been the standard sequence for undergraduate mathematics for years; nifty stuff but seldom, if ever, seen outside the classroom. Linear algebra, on the other hand, is alive and well in industry and just may be the most useful set of mathematical tools available to the technical types.

Everone studying or using linear algebra would find time spent with Dr. Strang's book an excellent time investment.

And for those not liking discovery or conversation, maybe you should try a different course of study ... you've missed the boat on this one!!

66 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too much emphasis on "discovery", June 17, 2003

By 

Randy Ringstad (Reno, Nevada USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Linear Algebra, Second Edition (Hardcover)

With only two days from my final exam in Linear Algebra, I figured it's a good time to review this text, briefly. I really like the author. I enjoyed watching the video lectures at the MIT website associated with this book, given by the author himself. The problem is that he doesn't explain the topics as clearly in the text as he does in his lectures. There is entirely too much emphasis on the "discovery" approach. Instead of just clearly explaining many of the important subjects like Determinants and Eigenvalues/Eigenvectors, he chooses to leave the student in the dark to "discover' these for himself or herself. I don't mind this method in small doses. However, it ends up being a frustrating experience when trying to do homework assignments. He dips into the abstract without warning, draws many conclusions that require one to read the sections over and over again, trying to grasp the concept. In future editions, I would recommend removing some of these more difficult concepts from the problem sets and, instead, placing them into the text where they really belong.
As a final example, I would appreciate it if Dr. Strang would link-up the concepts of Column Space, Nullspace, etc to Orthogonals to Eigenvalues/Eigenvectors in some way....How about a two or three page sidebar that ties them together. This would have made the subject much clearer than it is in this edition.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Linear Algebra Textbook for Qualified Beginners., September 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to Linear Algebra, Second Edition (Hardcover)

I hope comment writors can be more responsible about his or her comment. Try not to put emotion words in display. A great book will not be shattered by those words. As an educator for half of my life at an advanced institute, I have used this particular textbook for entry level class successfully. Each university attracts students of different interest and level. No textbook is fit for all level of students. If teacher agrees with his students this book is too difficult for his class. Maybe they should consider to change the textbook. For elementary level class, Bernard Kolman's Introductory Linear Algebra with Application is very good. For entry level science and engineering class, Strang's textbook is by far the best. For math students at higher level, Lax's Linear Algebra is the best choice. Unfortunately, the college student's math level has been down persistently for many years. For my class, this is still the textbook for beginners, maybe I should say qualified beginners.