Linear Algebra with Applications

By Otto Bretscher

Book Overview

For courses in Introductory Linear Algebra. This text offers the most geometric presentation now available, emphasizes linear transformations as a unifying theme, and is recognized for its extensive and thought-provoking problem sets. While preserving the same table of contents as the previous edition, this revision is the outcome of a careful reflection (and appropriate change) on the wording of each idea.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0131453343
• ISBN13: 9780131453340
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 2.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent textbook.

I took Linear Algebra many years ago at MIT, w/Strang. The course was focused on technicalities of manipulating with matrices but didn't give any deep insightes on the subject of Linear Algrebra. More recently I've found it necessary to review the whole thing and took the course at UMass, with this book as a textbook. The difference was substantial. This textbook probably gives less methods of matrix decomposition (compared with Strang) but it discusses the general idea of Vector Spaces, talks of isomorphism of all finite vector spaces, gets into Inner Product spaces, provides more broader view. The text is suitable for self-study. In fact, right now I'm talking Analysis with Rudin, we discuss Fourier Analysis, I've decided to refresh my memory on Orthogonal projections, got this textbook, read the whole thing, then moved to Inner product spaces (the section we skipped when I was taking that course), again, made easy and straightforward reading. I still keep Strang, as a supplement and reference, though.

Unlike most others here, I really liked this book

I really liked the visual approach to this topic. Can't begin to say how much this gave me an intuition on how linear algebra works. Much better than the formulas I see in most math books. I have a terrible memory for formulas but an excellent memory for illustrations. Of course, there are still theorems and formulas, too. Anway, really liked this book. I used this book a year ago and still feel like I remember all the major concepts and would be able to recall any particular section after a brief review (definely cannot say that about many of the math classes I have taken.)

For me, the conciseness was a plus!

It looks like some of the reviewers here disagree with me, but I think this textbook is excellent. The explanations and examples are generally very clear, and there isn't a lot of distracting nonsense. In many textbooks they try too hard to teach through "Real World" examples. i find such examples confusing because they obscure the math behind the example.I also felt this book had a nice mix of easy, medium and challenging problems. And it feels like the author really understands and strives to clarify many of the hurdles faced by Linear Algebra students.Make no mistake about it, Linear Algebra is a tough class that requires a lot of dilligence and abstract thinking. This book isn't going to guarantee you an A. But if you work through it, and if you have a helpful teacher, you'll be on the right track.By the way, I am a Computer Science major, and while I consider myself decent at math, I'm by no means a math genius. :)

Nice intro to linear algebra

I pretty much read this entire book front to back. It covers most basic linear algebra concepts. I don't understand why this book is getting such a poor review. It's concise and to the point. It's mathematically accurate and the problems can be challenging. The notation can take a while to get used to but it is mathematical convention. I found the part on fourier series to be very useful for studying more advanced math topics and for engineering.

A Contrarion Review

Contrary to the other reviewers, I found the book to be outstanding! A possible reason for the different view is that I had studied linear algebra before. This books needs to be read and followed carefully and thoroughly- it is comprehensive and explains what is 'really going on' in the realm of linear algebra. Basic ideas, theorems and computational methods are presented with clear examples and pictures illustrating the geometry involved.It is clearly not a 'cookbook' that one reads quickly to find the recipe for passing a course.