I want to learn more about algebra and matrices. I just turned 52 and mathematics is one of the subjects that it makes me feel that I can challenge and maintain my brain healthy. Could you recommend me a mathematics manual or a book that contains exercises and explains the method of resolving? I want to make a new habit for myself in learning new things that contribute to my health.
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6This is a great and intellectually courageous endeavor. Math is SUCH a broad topic. Is there one area that most interests you? (Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, number theory, etc.)... – David G. Stork May 05 '25 at 18:37
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3Welcome to Math SE! Here we don't really answer opinion-based questions like this, though, if I had to recommend some for you, they would be the AoPS, Art of Problem Solving books. Good luck on your journey! – Debalanced May 05 '25 at 18:37
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1I love the idea of learning linear algebra as a way to keep your brain active! Could you say more about your math background? It would be much easier to recommend books that cater to where you’re at in your mathematical journey. – Joe May 05 '25 at 18:38
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9Unfortunately. You don't tell us what you are starting from. – Thomas Andrews May 05 '25 at 18:38
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@Debalanced we absolutely answer questions about book recommendations. – Joe May 05 '25 at 18:39
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@Joe I don't know about that, similar questions have totally been closed before (see https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4335/where-to-start-learning-linear-algebra and https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/2377980/book-recommendations-for-linear-algebra) – Debalanced May 05 '25 at 18:40
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Giorgi Shilov's inexpensive book *Linear algebra* or *Matrices and Linear Algebra* by Hans Schneider and George Phillip Barker will give you a start. – David G. Stork May 05 '25 at 18:41
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@DavidG.Stork woah only 19 bucks for a linear algebra textbook?? I'm totally buying that – Debalanced May 05 '25 at 18:42
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@CristinaElenaValentina if you're interested in vectors you might be interested in looking into vector calculus as well, I found div grad curl and all that to be a great book, and electrodynamics by griffiths is nice too (you definitely want to finish learning lin alg before starting the latter, however) – Debalanced May 05 '25 at 18:46
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3@Cristina It would be helpful if you could [edit] your question to give us an idea of your mathematical background. For example: when you first took math classes, what was the most advanced level that you reached? How long has it been since you took a math class? Do you regularly use math in any capacity? – Ben Grossmann May 05 '25 at 18:46
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Try this book https://www.farinhansford.com/books/pla/ – lhf May 05 '25 at 19:50
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Assuming you have at least roughly a (U.S.) high school Algebra 2 background, some (but not all) of the references given in the answers to Reference books for learning matrices from the beginning? may be worth looking at. – Dave L. Renfro May 05 '25 at 21:09
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I downvoted and voted to close because it isn't clear what topics OP wants to learn about. – Adam Rubinson May 05 '25 at 21:49
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One service that's impressed me is Project Euler https://projecteuler.net/about
which now has about a thousand problems. They are written for investigation by computer, so one would learn some easier language while doing the problems. The whole thing was designed with the prototypical 14 year old boy in mind, computers and contests and the like.
I Need to think about it. Tricky to find problem books at just the right level.
hmmm. Matrices. some free items
https://archive.org/details/theoryofequation0000uspe_q9z0
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.459753
https://ia601303.us.archive.org/18/items/theoryofdetermin01muiruoft/theoryofdetermin01muiruoft.pdf
Will Jagy
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