A groundbreaking introduction to vectors, matrices, and least squares for engineering applications, offering a wealth of practical examples.

The book, Elements of Vector Algebra, is written for high school and engineering students who wish to gain elementary knowledge of vectors. Algebraic and geometric interpretations of vectors, along with examples and exercises in mathematical and engineering applications, have been provided to help develop a clear understanding of the vector concepts. The book provides thorough treatment of elementary vector operators and their algebra, product of two and three vectors and various engineering and scientific applications involving these concepts. At the end of each chapter, comprehensive exercises with varying degrees of difficulty have been provided to further hone the concepts. Interdisciplinary problems that have practical applications can also be found in this book catering to the ever-extending scope of vector algebra.

This volume presents a thorough discussion of systems of linear equations and their solutions. Vectors and matrices are introduced as required and an account of determinants is given. Great emphasis has been placed on keeping the presentation as simple as possible, with many illustrative examples. While all mathematical assertions are proved, the student is led to view the mathematical content intuitively, as an aid to understanding.The text treats the coordinate geometry of lines, planes and quadrics, provides a natural application for linear algebra and at the same time furnished a geometrical interpretation to illustrate the algebraic concepts.

Learn to: Solve linear algebra equations in several ways Put data in order with matrices Determine values with determinants Work with eigenvalues and eigenvectors Your hands-on guide to real-world applications of linear algebra Does linear algebra leave you feeling lost? No worries this easy-to-follow guide explains the how and the why of solving linear algebra problems in plain English. From matrices to vector spaces to linear transformations, you'll understand the key concepts and see how they relate to everything from genetics to nutrition to spotted owl extinction. Line up the basics discover several different approaches to organizing numbers and equations, and solve systems of equations algebraically or with matrices Relate vectors and linear transformations link vectors and matrices with linear combinations and seek solutions of homogeneous systems Evaluate determinants see how to perform the determinant function on different sizes of matrices and take advantage of Cramer's rule Hone your skills with vector spaces determine the properties of vector spaces and their subspaces and see linear transformation in action Tackle eigenvalues and eigenvectors define and solve for eigenvalues and eigenvectors and understand how they interact with specific matrices Open the book and find: Theoretical and practical ways of solving linear algebra problems Definitions of terms throughout and in the glossary New ways of looking at operations How linear algebra ties together vectors, matrices, determinants, and linear transformations Ten common mathematical representations of Greek letters Real-world applications of matrices and determinants