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I just bought Gilbert Strang's Linear Algebra so that I can read it along with watching his MIT lectures. I'm wondering how that will compare to this book/cours
by DarkTree 9y ago
I just bought Gilbert Strang's Linear Algebra so that I can read it along with watching his MIT lectures. I'm wondering how that will compare to this book/course.
Has anyone here already taken a similar path and what did you think?
My main interests are in graphics programming, so I'm hoping to apply what I learn from the course to that.
If anyone else has any recommendations on other areas of math, courses, or books in general for learning CG, that would be much appreciated!
- plmno 9y agoSuggestions 1. Introduction to the Mathematics of Computer Graphics by Nathan Carter: http://www.maa.org/press/ebooks/introduction-to-the-mathematics-of-computer-graphics http://www.maa.org/press/ebooks/introduction-to-the-mathemat... 2. When Life is Linear: From Computer Graphics to Bracketology by Tim Chartier: http://www.maa.org/press/books/when-life-is-linear-from-computer-graphics-to-bracketology http://www.maa.org/press/books/when-life-is-linear-from-comp...
- DarkTree 9y agoI'll check them out, thanks!
- rectang 9y agoThe approaches of Strang and Klein are complementary. * Klein uses complex numbers to introduce many concepts of vectors, and uses simple graphics programming with Python to motivate the student. The exercises in that chapter of the Klein are brilliant. * Klein introduces three different "fields" right away: the reals, the complex numbers, and the bool-valued "GF(2)" (a two-valued Galois Field). Strang sticks with the reals. * The more traditional approach of Strang to Gauss-Jordan elimination is much smoother than Klein's. For this topic, the Klein suffers for lack of straight-up problem drills.
- DarkTree 9y agoThanks for the comparison. Though they are complementary, would you recommend reading one before the other?
- rectang 9y agoI would suggest starting with the Klein and getting through the section on complex numbers, "Playing with C", which is at the end of chapter 1. (Note, Klein has a lengthy chapter 0 which is a review of prerequisites such as functions.) After that, I suggest moving through them roughly in parallel. You may find that you prefer one or the other; I wouldn't feel bad about running with either one. (In my view, the Klein is more uneven: it has more weak sections, but is occasionally very compelling.)