Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Third Updated Edition | 
 enlarge | Author: David C. Lay
Publisher: Addison Wesley
Category: Book
List Price: $137.33
Buy Used: $59.99
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New (34) Used (172) from $59.99
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 9384
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 3
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 576
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 8.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0321287134
Dewey Decimal Number: 512.5
EAN: 9780321287137
Publication Date: September 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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. 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 An easy understanding of Linear Algebra January 29, 2006
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I wanted to give this book four and half stars but I cannot do that so I just rounded up. When I first started trying to learn Linear Algebra on my own, I was a little lost. After having enrolled in the course at my college, coupled with reading this book, I have a better understanding of it now. I am not a math major so I have no use for proofs and theorems. You may here others complain that this book does not offer any of that, this book, I believe, was designed for those other than math majors. Math professors can teach you the proofs and theorems if you need those, but this book focuses on other aspects, hence the title...and Its Applications.
Lay, lays out each chapter in several subsections that cover a wide variety of topics. Each example he gives is helpful to some extent, this is why I wanted to give him 4.5 stars, but not completely. However, Lay provides a wealth of resources through his web site, which well makes up for anything missing from his book. The companion web site offers several programs for downloading, I believe free of charge. These programs are available for MATLAB, Mathematica, Maple and the TI calculators. It also has other student resources as well. In addition to the web site, there is an included cd that provides detailed solutions to every third problem in the book.
Overall, this is a very good book that allows the student to easily comprehend the world of linear algebra.
High Quality Linear Algebra Text! January 20, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book is much better than what I feel some reviewers are giving it credit for. Perhaps they have had better exposure than I have to other materials for comparison, but I cannot say for sure.
What I can say is that this book, for me, nearly took the place of the instructor that I had for the course. The book is literally that good at explaining concepts to you and providing relevant examples. I'm not sure what some reviewers meant when they found a gap between the examples and the problems at the end of the chapters, but I did not have this problem anywhere that I can recall.
What I like most about this book, compared to most of the math books I've seen in my day (more than enough, I assure you) is the format of the writing and the exposition of the problems. There are clear, clear connections made between visual and mechanical aspects of the problem. When you are working a linear algebra problem from the book, you should have a good idea of visually what it looks like that you're doing, where columns and rows are positioned, what elements from each are multiplying by the other and what the end result should look like before you get there. I don't typically get this vivid connection between the abstract visualization of the problem and the actual mechanics in other books, but this one poured it on consistently and I really enjoyed that.
The writing style is also casual enough that you don't feel as if you're being led through chapter after chapter of rote and repetition. Instead, it feels like you're being led further and further toward your understanding of the subject and you really are learning something new along the way at each step.
Regardless of what others say, I think that if you have the financial means and the interest, you should definitely include this book in your repertoire of linear algebra references. It is a gem, a guide and an indispensable reference for the subject. There is no other linear algebra text like it.
Great book!! April 18, 2006
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
David Lay actually has done a wonderful job in writing the book! His style is not quite entertaining but for a "modern" book on the subject, it is hot enough to surpass those written by many other math professors. I learned Linear Algebra from his book; but I benefited more from Harold Edwards' Linear Algebra--more straightforward and clear presentation of the subject. Although Edwards' book maybe considered to be a standard on the subject, its not dry--in fact, if you use linear algebra as a tool, you may find it more helpful. Especially if you are studying on your own, you may want to check out Edwards'--complete answers to every problem in the back!! But if you want to understand the subject from a more abstract point of view, Lay's is certainly better. But Gilbert Strang's is the all time applied linear algebra standard.
A very good introduction to linear algebra July 31, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The highest quality of a book is the ability to teach yourself from it. Lay's book is very self-teachable because it is written in a non-pretentious, explanatory way, making sure you get the big picture while making sure you can do the little details. It reminds me of Griffiths books in physics.
It is a little proof light, so I can respect that a mathematician who is into analysis might find this book too easy. Problems aren't too hard but aren't too easy for the more conceptual questions.
And I appreciate that the problems are meant to test your ability to understand the material, not do mindless calculations that I know anyone can do. For example, some matrices will just start off already diagonalized for you in later chapters.
This is written from the perspective of a physicist. I thus say to my fellow scientists that this is a great book to gain a good understanding of the linear algebra. If you are an experimentalist who frankly wants to learn only what he needs to in order to get by, THEN THIS BOOK ISN'T FOR YOU. This book develops from scratch everything you need to know for undergraduate physics. Go read a Differential Equations book and learn as you go for the linear algebra. If you're a theorist, this is for you.
An outstanding introduction to Linear Algebra August 9, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book provides a good companion for an introductory course in Linear Algebra. Mr. Lay's style is very clear, readable, and each concept logically builds on the last. My only concern is that, like another reviewer said there is the occasional gap between the exercises and the examples presented, which may require the assistance of the instructor. 4/5 Stars
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