Linear Algebra And Geometry 3

Inner product spaces, quadratic forms, and more advanced problem solvingWhat you'll learn:

Much more about matrices; abstract vector spaces and their bases

In this book we lead the student to an understanding of elementary linear algebra by emphasizing the geometric significance of the subject. Our experience in teaching beginning undergraduates over the years has convinced us that students learn the new ideas of linear algebra best when these ideas are grounded in the familiar geometry of two and three dimensions. Many important notions of linear algebra already occur in these dimensions in a non-trivial way, and a student with a confident grasp of these ideas will encounter little difficulty in extending them to higher dimensions and to more abstract algebraic systems. Moreover, we feel that this geometric approach provides a solid basis for the linear algebra needed in engineering, physics, biology, and chemistry, as well as in economics and statistics. The great advantage of beginning with a thorough study of the linear algebra of the plane is that students are introduced quickly to the most important new concepts while they are still on the familiar ground of two-dimensional geometry. In short order, the student sees and uses the notions of dot product, linear transformations, determinants, eigenvalues, and quadratic forms. This is done in Chapters 2.0-2.7. Then the very same outline is used in Chapters 3.0-3.7 to present the linear algebra of three-dimensional space, so that the former ideas are reinforced while new concepts are being introduced.

This book offers a refreshingly concise, manageable introduction to linear algebra: Whereas most treatments of the subject give an exhaustive survey supplemented with applications, this book presents a carefully selected array of the most essential topics that can be thoroughly covered in a single semester.

This unique text provides a geometric approach to group theory and linear algebra, bringing to light the interesting ways in which these subjects interact. Requiring few prerequisites beyond understanding the notion of a proof, the text aims to give students a strong foundation in both geometry and algebra. Starting with preliminaries (relations, elementary combinatorics, and induction), the book then proceeds to the core topics: the elements of the theory of groups and fields (Lagrange's Theorem, cosets, the complex numbers and the prime fields), matrix theory and matrix groups, determinants, vector spaces, linear mappings, eigentheory and diagonalization, Jordan decomposition and normal form, normal matrices, and quadratic forms. The final two chapters consist of a more intensive look at group theory, emphasizing orbit stabilizer methods, and an introduction to linear algebraic groups, which enriches the notion of a matrix group.

This is the fourth and revised edition of a well-received book that aims at bridging the gap between the engineering course of tensor algebra on the one side and the mathematical course of classical linear algebra on the other side. In accordance with the contemporary way of scientific publications, a modern absolute tensor notation is preferred throughout. The book provides a comprehensible exposition of the fundamental mathematical concepts of tensor calculus and enriches the presented material with many illustrative examples. In addition, the book also includes advanced chapters dealing with recent developments in the theory of isotropic and anisotropic tensor functions and their applications to continuum mechanics. Hence, this monograph addresses graduate students as well as scientists working in this field. In each chapter numerous exercises are included, allowing for self-study and intense practice. Solutions to the exercises are also provided.

Mathematics and Technology presents technological applications of mathematics making use of elegant mathematical concepts. The selected subjects consist of: public key cryptography, error correcting codes, the global positioning system (GPS) and cartography, image compression using fractals and the JPEG format, digital recording, robot movement, DNA computing, Google's PageRank algorithm, savings and loans, gamma ray surgery and random number generators. The authors highlight how mathematical modeling, together with the power of mathematical tools, have been crucial for innovation in technology.