> I'm having some trouble finding the Nearing. In my first post here, I misspelled the name. As in my first response to your post, the correct spelling is Ner

> I'm having some trouble finding the Nearing. In my first post here, I misspelled the name. As in my first response to your post, the correct spelling is Nering. > Also, what background do you think is necessary for these texts? The background to get started in linear algebra is essentially just high school algebra. In college, linear algebra is commonly the next course after calculus. For more, after linear algebra, commonly there is a course in 'analysis' such as Rudin's 'Principles' in my list. Without a good course, this book would be tough reading. The applications of linear algebra are so broad that for a good sampling of those applications the prerequisites in total are essentially at least a good undergraduate major in mathematics.