This book is a first introduction to linear algebra for students majoring in scientific, engineering and social science disciplines. It stresses both practical computation and theoretical principles, and proceeds at a very leisurely pace. One of its characteristic features is that it deals with systems of linear equations at an early stage and uses this theory for the introduction of later techniques and for the proofs of most of the usual vector space theorems. Vector spaces are initially introduced in terms of ${\bbfR}\sp n$, a later chapter gives a more formal treatment. This results in a fair amount of repetition but enables one to choose between a more elementary or more advanced course. The authors have included sections on applications such as difference equations, differential equations, interpolation and least squares approximation, and each chapter includes extensive exercise sections. For the second edition much of the material has been extended and the layout of the text has been improved. There is a new section on linear transformations, and an instructor’s manual and a student solutions manual are now available.
Reviewer: R.von Randow