Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Books a la Carte edition Plus NEW MyMathLab with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package Author: David Lay | Language: English | ISBN:
0321836146 | Format: EPUB
Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Books a la Carte edition Plus NEW MyMathLab with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package Description
This edition features the exact same content as the traditional text in a convenient, three-hole- punched, loose-leaf version. Books a la Carte also offer a great value–this format costs significantly less than a new textbook.
Linear algebra is relatively easy for students during the early stages of the course, when the material is presented in a familiar, concrete setting. But when abstract concepts are introduced, students often hit a brick wall. Instructors seem to agree that certain concepts (such as linear independence, spanning, subspace, vector space, and linear transformations), are not easily understood, and require time to assimilate. Since they are fundamental to the study of linear algebra, students' understanding of these concepts is vital to their mastery of the subject. David Lay introduces these concepts early in a familiar, concrete Rn setting, develops them gradually, and returns to them again and again throughout the text so that when discussed in the abstract, these concepts are more accessible.
--This text refers to an alternate
Loose Leaf
edition.
- Loose Leaf: 492 pages
- Publisher: Pearson; 4 edition (December 26, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0321836146
- ISBN-13: 978-0321836144
- Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
- Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
In my opinion the reviews on this site do not reflect the true rating of this book. I can't compare this book to other linear algebra textbooks but I can say that I am glad that the linear algebra course that I took had this as the assigned book. Theorems, definitions, and other key points are expressed clearly and even vividly (all theorems and definitions are enclosed in a colored box so that the reader can easily find them). The pictures/graphics are also an excellent feature to Lay's book, and I know that I benefited from being able to visualize certain concepts. Here is a reproduction of the table of contents (since amazon doesn't have a "look inside" for this book; a more detailed table of contents can be found at the publisher's website):
1. Linear Equations in Linear Algebra
2. Matrix Algebra
3. Determinants
4. Vector Spaces
5. Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
6. Orthogonality and Least Squares
7. Symmetric Matrices and Quadratic Forms
8. The Geometry of Vector Spaces
Chapter 8 is a new addition, and was not included in the 3rd edition (we didn't cover it in my class, but I remember seeing stuff like Bezier curves in that chapter). Speaking as a student, I liked how this textbook started off slow and gradually built up towards more complex topics. That's not to say that the initial chapters are fluff; they were covered in a rigorous manner which allows the student to build on each new logical concept from the previous ones. I also liked the many applied examples that Lay included: even if you never use linear algebra again (but chances are that you will, if you're taking linear algebra in the first place) you will appreciate applications such as Markov chains and linear regression.
Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Books a la Carte edition Plus NEW MyMathLab with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package Preview
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