What book should I get about algebra for physics?

[Tosh5457]

Hi, I study Physics, and where I study we only have 1 semester of linear algebra & geometry. I don't know the importance of knowing more algebra than this on physics, but I think 1 semester is not enough (specially when we barely had time to study everything).

So what book do you recommend for self-study?

[micromass]

A wonderful book is joshua.smcvt.edu/linearalgebra/book.pdf
Doesn't only contain a lot of theory, but also examples, motivations and applications. If you know this book, then you could say that you know a lot of linear algebra!!

[xristy]

Based on what you've said I would offer to suggestions:

1) Artin, Algebra - a thorough undergraduate algebra text covering topics in a way that may be appealing to physics students. There's an online video of one semester of algebra at MIT taught by Gross and using Artin as the text.

2) Stillwell, Naive Lie Theory - as he says in the preface "The really perfect sequel to calculus and linear algebra, however, would be a blend of the two -- a subject in which calculus throws light on linear algebra and vice versa. This perfect blend is Lie theory.", which is of considerable relevance in physics.

[bcrowell]

I second micromass's recommendation of Hefferon's linear algebra book.

Coxeter's Introduction to Geometry is a wonderful book (and don't be misled by the title -- it's an upper-division book for math majors).

[Sankaku]

Artin, Algebra - a thorough undergraduate algebra text covering topics in a way that may be appealing to physics students. There's an online video of one semester of algebra at MIT taught by Gross and using Artin as the text.
Actually it is Harvard:

http://www.extension.harvard.edu/openlearning/math222/

It is good, but moves pretty quick. If you want something that moves a little slower, try the lectures by Gene Abrams (Fall 2007) from UCCS:

http://www.uccs.edu/~math/vidarchive.html

However, this has less focus on Matrix groups than the Artin/Gross book/course mentioned above.

You may want to be more explicit about your background and interests so that people can give you better recommendations.

[Tosh5457]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I liked the book micromass suggested very much. It explains the purpose of linear algebra's concepts and it has good examples, nice book :smile: