I am in the process of deciding on textbooks and have very similar
opinions regarding Anton, Strang, and Lay.

Does anybody have experience with Sheldon Axler's text,
     Linear Algebra Done Right, Springer-UTM

The paperback version is very affordable, but I would probably end
up having to supplement a great deal of material.

Dale M. Rohm, Ph.D.
Department of Mathematics and Computing
Professor of Mathematics
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI  54481
Phone           (715) 346 - 3798
Email           [log in to unmask]
Home page       http://www.uwsp.edu/math/drohm/



-----Original Message-----
From: Post-calculus mathematics education
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Richard O. Hill
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 9:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Linear Algebra Textbooks


I am pretty opinionated about many linear algebra textbooks.  When I first
started looking carefully at them 20+ years ago, Anton was a deservedly
popular textbook, well-written and covering the traditional material
well.  Strang's influence became strong in that he really understands
applied and numerical mathematics, his books had great problems, and most
elementary linear algebra books now have at least some concessions to these
topics.  The problem with Anton is that he is a corporation, hires people
to write and revise his wide range of textbooks.  I reviewed his book last
year, and found it to be a mishmash of topics thrown in helter skelter many
with no connections elsewhere.  Anton himself need to go back and tie
things together.
         David Lay understands well what he is doing and has written an
excellent text, also deservedly popular.  For me, the choice isn't even
close; I would pick Lay.  Some people find the level of the problems in his
text a little low, but if so I'd just supplement them.  However, I would
strongly encourage you to look at a text by Otto Bretscher and one by
Richard Hill (me).

Richard Hill


At 08:03 AM 5/7/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello,
>
>   It's that time of year when members of my department start having heated
>discussions about textbook choices for next year. Although there are many
>nice linear algebra texts available it seems that we will be choosing between
>David Lay's "Linear Algebra with Applications" and Anton's "Elementary
>Linear Algebra" (not his more recent "Contemporary Linear Algebra").
>  Does anyone have any opinions on the pros and cons of these texts.  Both
>are popular and have been around for a while but they take quite different
>approaches to the material.
>
>Thanks
>D Sevee