Customer Reviews

Introduction to Linear Algebra, Second Edition

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!!

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.

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.

I used this book for a single reason: there is an online video lecture in MIT's open courseware. The lecture by itself is very clear and enjoyable, but the style of the book didn't serve me well. The biggest flaw is the loose organization, same as a reviewer pointed out for another book by Gilbert Strang, the book is too convensational, if you are a math major or consider your brain is more math-oriented, I suggest you not using this book.

UPs:
-Covers and emphasizes all matrix decompositions (plus includes a nice matrix decomposition list at the back)
-Topics like linear transformations and changes of basis are explained in very different (and amazing indeed) ways

DOWNs:
-The author definitely lacks the ability to explain things in a logically ordered way. This is more obvious in his other books, especially the one about wavelets....
-Beatiful examples are slaughtered by unneccessary and complex comments.

CONCLUSIONs:
-DEFINITELY NOT AN INTRODUCTIVE BOOK.
-Recommended only after taking an "introductive" course in linear algebra with a text book like Meyer's.

I give this book 3 stars mostly because of Strang's style of writing and not so much for the information contained in the book. The lucid prose and the overabundance of exclamation points in the text (you'll see what I mean if you buy it) make this book read as if you were talking to a really cool math professor who knows what he is talking about and is excited (oh yeah) about linear algebra. That part of the book is great, but this book definitely does not cut it as a reference book. When I took linear algebra years ago, I thought the book had lots of really cool things in it, but now, when I need to look up some advanced linear algebra topic for another advanced math class, I simply cannot find anything useful in this book. If you are considering buying this book to supplement your library, be warned that it is a very basic treatment. Also, this book places less emphasis on applications and computations, so non-math majors may not find it very helpful.

This is a pleasant surprise of a math text for higher education in that the prose isn't dry and the author fills the text with practical examples and explanations. How many times has the university math or engineering student read a text that derives one theorem and then expects the reader to apply it to a multitude of situations with no extra extrapolation by the author? In Strang's refreshing affront to modern university texts, he employs a conversational (and comfortable!) tone to draw the reader in to the subject of Linear Algebra. I've seen this billed as "Linear Algebra for the non-math major," but I reject that advertisement--every engineering and math student should get a nice change of pace with this text.

The text has the necessary solutions to selected (most) exercises, which make working through the problems much easier, since the student can get instant feedback about their solutions. Also, on a major plus side, this book is relatively compact and lightweight compared to other tomes of higher education.

I learned linear algebra from an earlier edition of
Strang's book many years ago at MIT and it has only
gotten better. I thought then and still think that the
presentation is excellent and the main ideas are
extraordinarily accessible-- it is not the
theorem:proof presentation typical of many advanced
mathematics texts which can obscure the underlying
structure for folks not intent on becoming mathematicians
(and perhaps even some budding mathematicians too).

Now that said, it might be too wordy for a reference text
and perhaps could use a quick reference guide something
akin that seen in introductory books on other topics
(the LaTeX book by Lamport or Ritchie's C book). However,
a better go would be to simply use Strang to LEARN the
material and then any of a variety of reference books
collaterally (kind of like using Yates and Goodman for
learning probability, but Papoulis or Feller for a reference).

A wonderful book to be used as an introduction to the subject.
Combined with the video lectures available, this book turns out to be perfect for self-learners.
I am very pleased with this purchase.

Gilbert Strang is a wonderful old professor who teaches Linear Algebra at MIT. He is also a terrible math book author. Written, well, like a brilliant man who is dumbing down his ideas for students, the text winds through multiple topics without ever nailing down important specifics. Even the chapter reviews, the 'concise points' of each chapter, are incredibly vague and nonspecific. For example, while discussing LU decompositions, Strang continually speaks of its computational efficiency but never mentions WHY the LU decomposition is computationally advantageous.

The book skimps even a bit too much on theorems, leaving you to believe Strang's hand-waving without walking you through the proofs. I understand this book is about application, but it's a bit too vague just to use for application; I don't need to know how you got to a proof, but I'd like to know why things in a formula works.

Maybe this book is better if you simultaneously take Strang's OpenCourseware class online. However, as a stand alone textbook, it's terrible. I've resorted to using Strang's chapter titles as my online search outline.