Linear algebra
by Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, Lawrence E. Spence · first published 1979
59% recommend41% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Rigorous, comprehensive coverage of linear algebra, from abstract transformations to matrices, with strong problem sets; suits readers who want a formal treatment and can pair it with a gentler text.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
A good text book on linear algebra.
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…"learning AI" is not getting the books or working through them systematically (which is hard enough), but that is for another blog entry. Post Script - Some book recommendations for beginners. 1. Linear Algebra by Gilbert Strang 2. Calculus by Gilbert Strang 3. Artificial Intelligence A Modern Approach By Russell and Norvig 4. Machine Learning By Tom Mitchell 5. Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition…
on “Self-learning is overrated (in programming)” ↗The Extended Phenotype: Richard Dawkins. Applied Cryptography: Bruce Schiener. Linear Algebra: Friedberg, Insel and Spence. Steven Pinker: The Blank Slate I've recently finished Dan Gilbert's: Stumbling on Happiness and I highly recommend it. It's witty and gives you a very different way of looking…
on “Ask HN: What's on your reading list? Recommendations? ” ↗…matrices as a representation of transformations with respect to a specified basis. Depending on your tastes, you may find it too dry, but imo it is a clean presentation. [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Linear-Algebra-4th-Stephen-Friedberg/...
on “Fundamentals of Linear Algebra and Optimization [pdf]” ↗Supposing you have at least high school mathematics under the belt: 1. Book of Proof by Hammack [1] 2. Tom Apostol Calculus Vol 1 (stop at Linear Algebra) 3. Linear Algebra by Insel, Spence & Friedberg 4. Understanding Analysis by Stephen Abbott 5. Tom Apostol Calculus Vol 2 These are books with excellent exposition, and solution manuals are available…
on “Ask HN: Serious mathematics books that can replace a good teacher?” ↗…money. The content of these is mostly the same). Mostly in order of level (math then physics) Calculus: Stewart's Calculus[1] (this is pretty much the standard) This has calc 1,2, and 3 (multi variable) Linear Algebra: David Lay [2]. Start sometime after calc 2 (series problems). This will start you on some optimization and constraint solving. Stress learning eigen values/vectors and least squares. I don't have a good…
on “Ask HN: How do I learn math/physics in my thirties?” ↗I found Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel and Spence to be excellent. Very clear, modern notation, great exercises. It's also what Tao lectured from in 115A: https://www.math.ucla.edu/~tao/resource/general/115a.3.02f/
on “Linear Algebra Done Right – Sheldon Axler” ↗Looking at the Table of Contents it seems fairly decent. The most helpful Linear Algebra book I have used is Linear Algebra by Friendberg, Insel, and Spence.
on “Jim Hefferon's Linear Algebra: A free textbook with fascinating applications” ↗While it certainly isn't terse, Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel, and Spence is comprehensive and rigorous. It has everything you would ever want to know about linear algebra with some applications too.
on “Jim Hefferon's Linear Algebra: A free textbook with fascinating applications” ↗I'm pretty at Mathematics and doing that takes a lot of work. And the Mathematics books for noobs are no good. The better approach is to get a theoretical book, something like Spivak's Calculus or Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel and Spence. And then from there whenever you have difficulty with the material spread out laterally and you really start to gradually grow an understanding of mathematics. And then…
on “Ask HN: Best Mathematics book for complete noobie?” ↗Tao's notes seem to be based on the book Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel and Spence. I found it to be one of the best books on Linear Algebra, better than even Hoffman/Kunze. The proofs are extremely clear, it has examples like PageRank, Markov Chains,…
on “Linear Algebra Done Right – 4th Edition” ↗Gilbert Strang's "Intro to Linear Algebra"[1] is widely recommended and I enjoyed it as a supplement to Friedberg, Insel, and Spence's much more formal "Linear Algebra"[2]. [1] https://math.mit.edu/~gs/linearalgebra/ila6/indexila6.html [2]…
on “Calculus Made Easy” ↗Linear Algebra and Geometry by Igor Shafarevich, coupled with Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel, and Spence; the latter has great problems to work with, whereas the former is for a lucid exposition.
on “Sheafification – The optimal path to mathematical mastery: The fast track (2022)” ↗…Distributed Systems - if you have ever uttered the word microservices or plan to. The below 3 maths are the main maths of computer science, most cutting edge work today employ some or all of them. Linear Algebra, Discrete Maths, Probs & Statistics
on “Ask HN: Books/courses for self-taught programmer” ↗I offer a text, Linear Algebra, both for Free download and for sale (at Amazon $22). It generates a respectable number of sales. People will pay, or at least some people will pay, for quality. They do get mad, though, at paying…
on “Top Hat Raises $22M to Go After Pearson, McGraw-Hill” ↗…are starting with the equivalent of a high school level of maths - you want to take a ML course or read an ML book without feeling totally lost As some commenters have said, Calculus, Probability and Linear Algebra will be very helpful. Some people like to recommend the "best" or "most important" books which you "should" read, but there is a strong chance these will end up sitting on a bookshelf, barely touched. So…
on “Ask HN: What maths are critical to pursuing ML/AI?” ↗