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2 Linear Algebra For Dummies
book where you find the information you may need. In fact, throughout this
book, I send you scurrying to find more information on topics in other places.
The layout of the book is logical and follows a plan, but my plan doesn’t have
to be your plan. Set your own route.
Conventions Used in This Book
You’ll find the material in this book to be a helpful reference in your study
of linear algebra. As I go through explanations, I use italics to introduce new
terms. I define the words right then and there, but, if that isn’t enough, you
can refer to the glossary for more on that word and words close to it in meaning.
Also, you’ll find boldfaced text as I introduce a listing of characteristics
or steps needed to perform a function.
What You’re Not to Read
You don’t have to read every word of this book to get the information you
need. If you’re in a hurry or you just want to get in and out, here are some
pieces you can safely skip:
✓ Sidebars: Text in gray boxes are called sidebars. These contain interesting
information, but they’re not essential to understanding the topic at
hand.
✓ Text marked with the Technical Stuff icon: For more on this icon, see
“Icons Used in This Book,” later in this Introduction.
✓ The copyright page: Unless you’re the kind of person who reads the
ingredients of every food you put in your mouth, you probably won’t
miss skipping this!
Foolish Assumptions
As I planned and wrote this book, I had to make a few assumptions about
you and your familiarity with mathematics. I assume that you have a working
knowledge of algebra and you’ve at least been exposed to geometry and
trigonometry. No, you don’t have to do any geometric proofs or measure
any angles, but algebraic operations and grouping symbols are used in linear
algebra, and I refer to geometric transformations such as rotations and reflections
when working with the matrices. I do explain what’s going on, but it
helps if you have that background.