Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra
by Stephen Boyd, Lieven Vandenberghe · first published 2018
70% recommend30% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Focuses on a small set of concrete linear algebra concepts and motivates them with many practical applications, with extra materials available free online; suits readers who want applied intuition over abstract theory.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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These kind of geometrical solutions are easier to grasp than other traditional solutions. If geometry is not your thing but programming is, I really recommend Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares [0] by Stanford's prof Boyd, he has written about fast methods using linear algebra that are guaranteed to converge if they meet certain criteria [1]. [0] http://vmls-book.stanford.edu/ [1]…
on “A Ray Tracing Technique for the Navigation on a Non-Convex Pareto Front” ↗…Paul Halmos. His books are introductory in the context of mathematics courses. They are not introductory in applied mathematical sciences contexts. There I would suggest, e.g., Boyd and Vandenberghe’s Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra [1], Meyer’s Matrix Analysis and Applied Linear Algebra [2], Golub and Van Loan’s Matrix Computations [3] etc. > But the book doesn’t like determinants and isn’t focused on computing things around matrices…
on “You're not dumb, the prerequisites are bullshit” ↗…Geometry Toolbox by Gerald Farin and Dianne Hansford. You can get older editions for pennies. The 1st edition was actually called The Geometry Toolbox for Graphics and Modeling. You should also read Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares by Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe: https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls/
on ““When are we going to use this in our everyday life?” (2017)” ↗Boyd and Vandenberghe's Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra [1]. [1] https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls
on “Calculus Made Easy (1910)” ↗Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares : https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls/
on “Ask HN: Best beginner friendly linear algebra book?” ↗…Geometry Toolbox; this is meant to emphasize that we approach linear algebra in a geometric and algorithmic way (The first edition was named "The Geometry Toolbox for Graphics and Modeling"). Pair it with Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares by Boyd and Vandenberghe (https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls/) and you are golden.
on “Ask HN: Best beginner friendly linear algebra book?” ↗+1 for 18-06 and Axler. Another, more concrete, option (not sure how much it will help with quantum theory) is Stephen Boyd's "Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra" available online here: https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls/
on “Willow, Our Quantum Chip” ↗…Pair it with Edgar Goodaire's Linear Algebra: Pure & Applied and you can transition nicely from intuitive geometric to pure mathematical approach. The author's writing style is quite accessible. Add in Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra: Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares by Stephen Boyd et al. and you are golden. Free book available at https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls/
on “The Little Book of Linear Algebra” ↗I’ve really enjoyed this book: Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares https://web.stanford.edu/~boyd/vmls/
on “An illustrated introduction to linear algebra” ↗…later chapters are on measure theory, the Lebesgue integral, and the exterior algebra of differential forms, and there are better treatments. Also there is now Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe, Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares at http://vmls-book.stanford.edu/vmls.pdf Since the book is new, I've only looked through it -- it looks like a good selection and arrangement of topics.…
on “Ask HN: Recommend a maths book for a teenager?” ↗I enjoyed “Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares” because it focuses on a relatively few concrete concepts in linear algebra, and explains and motivates them with lots of practical applications. It’s a free download…
on “Math books like Infite Powers or Calculus Made Easy but for other topics?” ↗…with the book. I am in the beginning, but so far, I'd recommend the book. Though, the steep price (almost 100USD over here) makes it a bit difficult to recommend. I might buy Boyd’s and Vandenberghe’s Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra later and write a comparison.
on “Introduction to Linear Algebra for Applied Machine Learning with Python” ↗…series of Linear algebra videos [1] The contenders seems to be: - Linear Algebra Done Right - Sheldon Axler - Liner Algebra Done Wrong - Sergei Treil - Introduction to Linea Algebra - Gilbert Strang - Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra: Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares by Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe [1] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZHQObOWTQDPD3MizzM2x...
on “Linear Algebra Done Right – Sheldon Axler” ↗Stanford has ENGR108 [1] based on freely available book "Introduction to Applied Linear Algebra – Vectors, Matrices, and Least Squares" [2] by Stephen Boyd, with video lectures [3] available. EE263 [4] is sort of a continuation of this at a more advaneced level, it originally also was developed…
on “Seven sins of numerical linear algebra” ↗