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Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 3rd Edition 3rd Edition

3.3 out of 5 stars 59 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0155510050
ISBN-10: 0155510053
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 520 pages
  • Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; 3rd edition (February 10, 1988)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0155510053
  • ISBN-13: 978-0155510050
  • Product Dimensions: 1 x 6.5 x 9.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #524,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

Format: Hardcover
This book was my text for a comprehensive two-semester course in linear algebra I took over ten years ago. To this day, it remains one of my favorites I use as a reference.
The ¡°applications¡± implied by the title has a double meaning. Several simplified yet representative problems taken from engineering and economics are well presented. In addition, another major theme throughout the text is the role of linear algebra applied to other areas of mathematics; notably calculus, differential equations, and optimization. Repeatedly, the author appeals to the reader¡¯s intuition, demonstrating the boundaries between mathematical topics by comparing and contrasting the discrete and continuous case of a problem. For example, the discussion of orthogonal vectors, vector spaces, and projections quickly moves from vectors to functions once we regard functions as infinite dimensional vectors containing infinite components. The discussion eventually leads to a very intuitive take on Fourier series and Legendre polynomials in the context of orthogonal projections. Other examples abound where Strang cohesively ties together various areas of math in a perspective that isn¡¯t emphasized enough in other texts.
Hence, this is not only a book on linear algebra. To get the most out of the text requires familiarity with calculus encompassing multiple variables, vectors and some ordinary differential equations. Readers lacking this background will understand some sections only to be lost in others as coverage moves quickly from elementary concepts to topics where they have no previous exposure.
Chapters 1-5 and half of 6 comprise the core of the book. The remainder provides satisfactory coverage of numerical linear algebra, the finite element method, and linear programming.
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Format: Hardcover
Firstly, this book is true to its title...

It motivates the subject matter clearly and presents instances of why a certain type of problem is important (Why do we care about Ax=b, Ax=[lambda]x, ...)

It motivates the use of certain algorithms (Why do we use Gaussian Elimination, why pivot, why do the SVD, ...)

Also, as a basic text in Linear Algebra, which is THE introductory subject to applied mathematics, it serves a a primer for various areas in applied math: optimization, numerical solution of PDEs, "curve fitting" =), etc.....
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By A Customer on March 14, 2000
Format: Hardcover
What is it with you people? I see scathing review after scathing review of this book. Do you feel as though it somehow makes you into a real mathematician to belittle the informal tone? Does it make you feel any better about yourself to suggest that the target audience of this text is "kindergarteners?"
Sure, Strang's book may not be an adequate sole text from which to learn linear algebra and matrix theory. But surely serious mathematicians (as opposed to kindergarteners) would never attempt to learn a subject from a single text.
This is where the book shines - as a supplement to a more formal text. (Here, pick your own; I have my own personal favorite, but it has been out of press for years). And then read the two side by side. One provides rigor, the other, INTUITIVE UNDERSTANDING. This, after all, is where Strang's book shines - rather than providing only a formal understanding of the mathematics in question, he manages to convey an intuitive understanding of the objects represented by linear algebra methods in many common applications.
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Format: Hardcover
I'm shocked at the number of negative reviews of this book. I think it's a great book. Linear algebra is an incredibly important subject, for example in my field of electrical engineering. Every time I need to refresh my understanding of a concept, I turn back to this book (I have the edition from 1976). I had Strang as a lecturer at MIT in the late 1990s, and he is a great teacher, which I think is reflected in his book. I truly enjoy reading this book -- practical, conversational and enjoyable to read, helpful insights, as well as Strang's opinions on the usefulness and practicality of various results. I would describe the book as an advanced introductory linear algebra book, if that makes sense. It's definitely not graduate level, but unless you're pretty sharp, it might be a tough first book from which to learn linear algebra. Maybe that's why there are some negative reviews of this book here. I recommend it very highly, especially for those who already have some knowledge of linear algebra. In fact, the reason I came to this page in the first place is to buy a second copy of the book, so I can have one in my office and one at home... there aren't very many books I would say that about...
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Format: Hardcover
It was some years ago when I first took a Linear Algebra course and fortunately the instructor choose this as the text book. I thought that Strang's explanations were superior to the lectures given in class and I could have easily gotten through the course by reading this book and taking the tests ! Just recently I have had to go back and relearn this subject and this book was almost joy to read (well O.K. it is a math book). Mr Strang has the rare ability of making this subject intuitively obvious and convincing. He starts from very a modest beginning of solving systems of linear equations and then makes the almost seamless transition to matrices and vectors by a change of perspective. As the subject is developed, Mr Strang makes every effort he can to clearly present the material as does not defer to the usual "left as a an excercise for the reader" device to evade explaining the subject. The narrative is lively and enthusiatic and sometimes even humorous and has lots of reminders of previously mentioned ideas to keep the text flowing. If more math books were written like this, then fewer people would complain about obscurity of this subject.
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