Applied Linear Algebra: The Decoupling Principle

Writing for junior and senior undergraduates, Sadun (mathematics, U. of Texas at Austin) offers diagonalization (reducing coupled linear evolution problems to a sequence of simpler decoupled problems) as a significant tool suitable for physics and engineering as well as in mathematics. He explains vector spaces and bases, linear transformations and operators, eigenvalues, circles and ellipses, inner products, adjoints, Hermitian operators, unitary operators, the wave equation, continuous spectre and the Dirac delta function, Fourier transforms, Green's and functions, and includes an appendix on matrix operations (new to this edition) and a full chapter on crucial applications. For this edition he also includes new exercises (with solutions), and a series of very good numerical labs, some of which are theoretical and relate linear algebra to quantum physics. Sadun also thoughtfully supplies a section for instructors, including recommendations for course outlines. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)