Finding the Right Book for Vectors at High School Level

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding appropriate books for high school students studying vectors. Participants share recommendations and inquire about the specific level and type of vector concepts the original poster is encountering, including both practical applications and theoretical aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster expresses dissatisfaction with their current school materials on vectors, finding them brief and unorganized.
  • Some participants inquire about the original poster's familiarity with drawing vectors and using trigonometry and Pythagorean theorem to find resultants.
  • Recommendations include older trigonometry books, such as one by Larson & Hostetler, and a linear algebra book by Paul C. Shields, which is suggested for its introductory approach.
  • Another participant mentions a book titled "Introduction to Matrix Algebra" aimed at high school students, published in the 1960s.
  • There is a discussion about the different types of vectors, with some participants suggesting that the original poster may be dealing with vectors in a physical context (like motion) while others mention a more abstract mathematical treatment in linear algebra.
  • The original poster clarifies they are starting with spatial vectors and their applications in geometry, specifically mentioning the triangle law.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best book or approach, as there are multiple recommendations and differing views on the type of vectors being studied. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the most suitable resources for the original poster's needs.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not established specific criteria for the types of vectors or applications that should be prioritized in the recommended materials, leading to varied suggestions based on personal experiences and interpretations.

sadhu
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hi,
I am at high school level, I just started with vectors,but topics given in my school books
didn't seem enough to me, they are just too brief and unorganized.

could anyone tell which book could best for me, to study vectors?
 
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Let me just ask you a few questions.

Are you at the level of drawing out the vectors, and using bith trig and pythagoras to find the resultant? Have you done any work on inclined plains?
 
yes I am just starting with addition ,multiplication , and using orthogonal vectors
 
Any conservative, old, trigonometry book should be helpful. What book are you currently using? I found a Trigonometry book by Larson & Hostetler of a few years old, seems to be good. Information about handling vectors is more difficult; so maybe you just need to concentrate on this more than other topics.
 
i like adams and shifrin. i also have a free linear algebra book on my website.

there was good beginning book by paul shields a long time ago, that started in 2 and 3 dimensions.

heres one for a dollar:

Elementary linear algebra (ISBN: 0879010258)
Paul C Shields
Bookseller: thriftbooks.com
(Auburn, WA, U.S.A.)
Bookseller Rating:
Price: US$ 1.00
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US$ 3.75
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Book Description: Worth Publishers. Book Condition: Good. Spend Less. Read More. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Bookseller Inventory # G0879010258I3N00
 
and here is one written especially for high school students in the 1960's:

Introduction to Matrix Algebra
School Mathematics Study Group
Bookseller: Ship Today Books
(Charlotte, NC, U.S.A.)
Bookseller Rating:
Price: US$ 29.00
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Quantity: 1 Shipping within U.S.A.:
US$ 3.50
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Book Description: Yale Univ. Press 1961, 1961. Very good plus. Bookseller Inventory # 4021418

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The difficulty, sadhu, is that you didn't tell us what kind of vectors you are interested in.

I suspect that you are dealing with vectors as "arrows", perhaps representing motion, velocity, or acceleration. That's the kind of "vector" CrawfordK and symbolipoint are talking about (although your response "yes I am just starting with addition ,multiplication , and using orthogonal vectors" doesn't really help distinguish).

Mathwonk is talking about vectors in "Linear Algbra" a more abstract, mathematical treatment that is taught in some high schools.
 
I have started with spatial vectors , involving triangle law and more importantly their application in geometery
 

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