Linear Algebra (eBook)

Linear algebra is one of the most important subjects in the study of science and engineering because of its widespread applications in social or natural science, computer science, physics, or economics. As one of the most useful courses in undergraduate mathematics, it has provided essential tools for industrial scientists. The basic concepts of linear algebra are vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices and determinants, and they serve as an abstract language for stating ideas and solving problems. This book is based on the lectures delivered several years in a sophomore- level linear algebra course designed for science and engineering students. The primary purpose of this book is to give a careful presentation of the basic concepts of linear algebra as a coherent part of mathematics, and to illustrate its power and usefulness through applications to other disciplines. We have tried to emphasize the computational skills along with the mathematical abstractions, which have also an integrity and beauty of their own. The book includes a variety of interesting applications with many examples not only to help students understand new concepts but also to practice wide applications of the subject to such areas as differential equations, statistics, geometry, and physics. Some of those applications may not be central to the mathematical development and may be omitted or selected in a syllabus at the discretion of the instructor.