Linear Algebra with SageMath Learn math with open-source software

This book is the second in a series of textbooks designed to provide instruction on using SageMath to study various subjects in undergraduate mathematics. In this volume, we focus on using Sage in a first-year course on Linear Algebra.

The goal is not to present a comprehensive treatment of Linear Algebra, but rather to offer a clear and accessible introduction to Sage’s robust capabilities for working with vectors, matrices, systems of equations, and linear transformations.

This book was written by undergraduate students at Wright College who were enrolled in my Math 299 class, Writing in the Sciences.

For many years, I have been teaching Linear Algebra using the open source mathematical software SageMath. Despite the fabulous capabilities of this software, students were often frustrated by the lack of specific documentation geared towards beginning undergrad students in Linear Algebra.

This book was born out of this frustration and the desire to make our own contribution to the Open Education movement, from which we have benefitted greatly. In the context of Open Pedagogy, my students and I ventured into a challenging learning experience based on the principles of freedom and responsibility. Each week, students wrote a chapter of this book. They found the topics and found their voice. We critically analyzed their writing, and they edited and edited again and again. They wrote code, tested it and polished it. In the process, we all learned so much about Sage, and we found some bugs in the software that are now in the process of being fixed thanks to its very active community of developers.

The result is the book we dreamed of having when we first attempted Linear Algebra with Sage. Our book is intended to provide concise and complete instructions on how to use different Sage functions to solve problems in Linear Algebra. Our goal is to streamline the learning process, helping students focus more on mathematics and reducing the friction of learning how to code. Our textbook is interactive and designed for all math students, regardless of programming experience. Rooted in the open education philosophy, our textbook is, and always will be, free for all.

I am very proud of the work of my students and hope that this book will serve as inspiration for other students to take ownership of a commons-based education. Towards a future where higher education is equally accessible to all.