THEORY OF MATRICES

Matrix theory is one of the most important and usefull branches of mathematics with applications in such diverse fields as education, psychology, chemistry, physics, engineering, statistics and economics. Moreover, the theory has numerous functions within mathematics itself.

This volume offers an exceptionally useful test for mathematics majors taking a first course in the theory of matrices. Th main theme of the book is the establishment of the well-known canonical forms. Rank, non-singularity and inverses are itnroduced in connection with the development of canonical matricew under the rlation of equivalence, and without the intervention of determinants.

To make the book as accesible as possible, Professor Perlis has excercised edceptional care in writing proofs, discussions and examples to illustrate definitions and theorems. There is also a generous supply of exercises including adequate ammounts of nymerical work, but bearing heavily on simple theoretical questions. In addition, numerous supplementary problems are treated to appendises located at the ends of various chapters. In this way the are available near the point at which they became relevant bur are not intrusions upon the orderly development of the main theorems.