Translation of selected material from Kurs vyssheĭ matematiki.

Derived from an encyclopedic six-volume survey, this accessible text by a prominent Soviet mathematician offers a concrete approach to linear algebra and group theory that emphasizes applications. Containing material not otherwise available to English-language readers, it forms a highly suitable text for undergraduate students of mathematics as well as a reference for mathematicians, theoretical physicists, and engineers.
The three-part approach begins with an exposition of the properties of determinants and systems of equations, including correlative material on applications. The second part provides a simple but complete treatment of matrix theory, covering covariance, contravariance, tensor algebra, eigenvalues, infinite-dimensional spaces, and reduction of matrices to canonical forms. The final section introduces various ideas of group theory, with particular emphasis on rotation and Lorentz groups. A large and rich set of problems, complete with hints and answers, concludes each chapter.