3.1: Introducing the Course Textbooks
- Page ID
- 63610
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Student self guided learning through assigned readings are required for students to be successful. The course strives to use Open Educational Resources (OER) to help reduce financial burden on the students. To this end we have selected the following textbooks for reading assignments and supplemental examples:
- Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra by Boyd and Vandenberghe
- Linear Algebra by Jim Heffron
- A First Course in Linear Algebra by Robert A. Beezer
DO NOT WORRY You will not be expected to read all three textbooks in this course! In fact, we try to keep the reading at a reasonable level and focus on problem solving. However, most students benefit from seeing material in multiple ways (Reading, Lecture, Practice, etc). Different students (and instructors) also prefer different writing styles and may learn better with different text (which is why we provide more than one).
Students are encouraged to review and become familiar with the style and layout of each text to act as a common reference for the course. If you get stuck on a topic try looking it up and reviewing it in one of the other texts. If you are still stuck you can search the Internet. Do not be afraid to also ask your instructors questions and come to office hours. That is why we are here!!!
Download a copy of each textbooks onto your preferred reading device and review the Table of Contents in each text.
As you can see each textbook approaches Linear algebra in a slightly different way. This variety reflects the different philosophies of teaching and different ways of individual learning. One way to evaluate the focus of a particular textbook is to look at it’s very first chapter. For Example:
- The Beezer and Heffron texts start out with “Systems of linear Equations” and “Linear Systems.” These topics are basically the same idea with the focus of defining linear systems as just sets of “linear combinations”. Clearly this is a core concept and a good place to start.
- The Boyd and Vandenberghe text choose to start with “Vectors”. In linear algebra the “vector” is a mathematical tool for which all of the mechanics of the math is built. Again, not a bad place to start.
In the first few assignments this course we will be looking at both concepts. You will want to learn and be able to identify linear systems and how to represent them as vectors.
Find three additional topics (Besides Linear Systems and Vectors) that seem to be common between the three textbooks. You can probably assume that these topics will be important to our course as well.
Put your answer to the above question here.