Information AboutLinear Algebra |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT LINEAR ALGEBRA | |
| linear algebralinear algebra | |
| algebra | |
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Linear algebra is the branch of Mathematics concerned with the study of Vector s, Vector Space s (also called ''linear spaces''), Linear Transformation s, and Systems Of Linear Equations in finite dimensions. Vector spaces are a central theme in modern Mathematics ; thus, linear Algebra is widely used in both Abstract Algebra and Functional Analysis . Linear algebra also has a concrete representation in Analytic Geometry and it is generalized in Operator Theory . It has extensive applications in the Natural Sciences and the Social Sciences , since nonlinear models can often be approximated by a linear model. HISTORY The history of modern linear algebra dates back to the years 1843 and 1844. In 1843, William Rowan Hamilton (from whom the term ''vector'' stems) discovered the Quaternion s. In 1844, Hermann Grassmann published his book ''Die lineale Ausdehnungslehre'' (see References). Arthur Cayley introduced (2×2) Matrices , one of the most fundamental linear algebraic ideas, in 1857 . ELEMENTARY INTRODUCTION Linear algebra had its beginnings in the study of vectors in Cartesian 2-space and 3-space. A vector, here, is a directed Line Segment , characterized by both its magnitude, represented by length, and its direction. Vectors can be used to represent physical entities such as Force s, and they can be added to each other and multiplied with Scalar s, thus forming the first example of a Real Vector Space . Modern linear algebra has been extended to consider spaces of arbitrary or infinite dimension. A vector space of dimension ''n'' is called an ''n''-space. Most of the useful results from 2 and 3-space can be extended to these higher dimensional spaces. Although many people cannot easily visualize vectors in ''n''-space, such vectors or ''n''-tuples are useful in representing data. Since vectors, as ''n''-tuples, are ''ordered'' lists of ''n'' components, it is possible to summarize and manipulate data efficiently in this framework. For example, in Economics , one can create and use, say, 8-dimensional vectors or 8-tuples to represent the Gross National Product of 8 countries. One can decide to display the GNP of 8 countries for a particular year, where the countries' order is specified, for example, ( United States , United Kingdom , France , Germany , Spain , India , Japan , Australia ), by using a vector (v1, v2, v3, v4, v5, v6, v7, v8) where each country's GNP is in its respective position. A vector space (or linear space), as a purely abstract concept about which we prove Theorem s, is part of abstract algebra, and well integrated into this field. Some striking examples of this are the Group of invertible linear maps or Matrices , and the Ring of linear maps of a vector space. Linear algebra also plays an important part in analysis, notably, in the description of higher order derivatives in vector analysis and the study of tensor products and alternating maps. A vector space is defined over a Field , such as the field of Real Number s or the field of Complex Number s. Linear Operator s take elements from a linear space to another (or to itself), in a manner that is compatible with the addition and scalar multiplication given on the vector space(s). The set of all such transformations is itself a vector space. If a Basis for a vector space is fixed, every linear transform can be represented by a table of numbers called a Matrix . The detailed study of the properties of and Algorithm s acting on matrices, including Determinant s and Eigenvector s, is considered to be part of linear algebra. One can say quite simply that the Linear problems of Mathematics - those that exhibit Linearity in their behaviour - are those most likely to be solved. For example Differential Calculus does a great deal with linear approximation to functions. The difference from Nonlinear problems is very important in practice. The general method of finding a linear way to look at a problem, expressing this in terms of linear algebra, and solving it, if need be by matrix calculations, is one of the most generally applicable in mathematics. SOME USEFUL THEOREMS
GENERALIZATION AND RELATED TOPICS Since linear algebra is a successful theory, its methods have been developed in other parts of mathematics. In Module theory one replaces the Field of scalars by a ring. In Multilinear Algebra one deals with the 'several variables' problem of mappings linear in each of a number of different variables, inevitably leading to the Tensor concept. In the spectral theory of operators control of infinite-dimensional matrices is gained, by applying Mathematical Analysis in a theory that is not purely algebraic. In all these cases the technical difficulties are much greater. SEE ALSO REFERENCES
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