Linear Algebra: An Inquiry-based Approach is written to give instructors a tool to teach students to develop a mathematical concept from first principles. The Inquiry-based Approach is central to this development. The text is organized around and offers the standard topics expected in a first undergraduate course in linear algebra. In our approach, students begin with a problem and develop the mathematics necessary to describe, solve, and generalize it. Thus students learn a vital skill for the 21st century: the ability to create a solution to a problem. This text is offered to foster an environment that supports the creative process. The twin goals of this textbook are: *Providing opportunities to be creative, *Teaching "ways of thinking" that will make it easier for to be creative. To motivate the development of the concepts and techniques of linear algebra, we include more than two hundred activities on a wide range of problems, from purely mathematical questions, through applications in biology, computer science, cryptography, and more. Table of Contents Introduction and Features For the Student . . . and Teacher Prerequisites Suggested Sequences 1 Tuples and Vectors 2 Systems of Linear Equations 3 Transformations 4 Matrix Algebra 5 Vector Spaces 6 Determinants 7 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors 8 Decomposition 9 Extras Bibliography Index Bibliography Jeff Suzuki is Associate Professor of Mathematics at Brooklyn College and holds a Ph.D. from Boston University. His research interests include mathematics education, history of mathematics, and the application of mathematics to society and technology. He is a two-time winner of the prestigious Carl B. Allendoerfer Award for expository writing. His publications have appeared in The College Mathematics Journals; Mathematics Magazine; Mathematics Teacher; and the American Mathematical Society's blog on teaching and learning mathematics. His YouTube channel (http://youtube.com/jeffsuzuki1) includes videos on mathematical subjects ranging from elementary arithmetic to linear algebra, cryptography, and differential equations.

Uncovers the surprising ways math shapes our lives-from whom we date to what we learn. How do dating sites match compatible partners? What do cell phones and sea coasts have in common? And why do computer scientists keep ant colonies? Jeff Suzuki answers these questions and more in Patently Mathematical, which explores the mathematics behind some of the key inventions that have changed our world. In recent years, patents based on mathematics have been issued by the thousands-from search engines and image recognition technology to educational software and LEGO designs. Suzuki delves into the details of cutting-edge devices, programs, and products to show how even the simplest mathematical principles can be turned into patentable ideas worth billions of dollars. Readers will discover * whether secure credit cards are really secure * how improved data compression made streaming video services like Netflix a hit * the mathematics behind self-correcting golf balls * why Google is such an effective and popular search engine * how eHarmony and Match.com find the perfect partner for those seeking a mate * and much more! A gifted writer who combines quirky historical anecdotes with relatable, everyday examples, Suzuki makes math interesting for everyone who likes to ponder the world of numerical relationships. Praise for Jeff Suzuki's Constitutional Calculus "Presents an entertaining and insightful approach to the mathematics that underlies the American system of government. The book is neatly organized, breaking down the United States Constitution by article, section, and amendment. Within each piece, Suzuki reviews the mathematical principles that went into the underlying framework."-Mathematical Reviews "A breath of fresh air. . . . A reaffirmation that mathematics should be used more often to make general public policy."-MAA Reviews

How should we count the population of the United States? What would happen if we replaced the electoral college with a direct popular vote? What are the consequences of allowing unlimited partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts? Can six-person juries yield verdicts consistent with the needs of justice? Is it racist to stop and frisk minorities at a higher rate than non-minorities? These and other questions have long been the subject of legal and political debate and are routinely decided by lawyers, politicians, judges, and voters, mostly through an appeal to common sense and tradition. But mathematician Jeff Suzuki asserts that common sense is not so common, and traditions developed long ago in what was a mostly rural, mostly agricultural, mostly isolated nation of three million might not apply to a mostly urban, mostly industrial, mostly global nation of three hundred million. In Constitutional Calculus, Suzuki guides us through the U.S. Constitution and American history to show how mathematics reveals our flaws, finds the answers we need, and moves us closer to our ideals. From the first presidential veto to the debate over mandatory drug testing, the National Security Agency's surveillance program, and the fate of death row inmates, Suzuki draws us into real-world debates and then reveals how math offers a superior compass for decision-making. Relying on iconic cases, including the convictions of the Scottsboro boys, League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, and Floyd v. City of New York, Suzuki shows that more math can lead to better justice, greater fairness, and a more stable democracy. Whether you are fascinated by history, math, social justice, or government, your interest will be piqued and satisfied by the convincing case Suzuki makes.