Customarily, much of traditional mathematics curricula was predicated on 'by hand' calculation. However, ubiquitous computing requires us to refresh what we teach and how it is taught. This is especially true in the rapidly broadening fields of Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence, and also in fields such as Bioinformatics, which all require the use of Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). Indeed, SVD is sometimes called the jewel in the crown of linear algebra.

Linear Algebra for 21st Century Applications adapts linear algebra to best suit modern teaching and application, and it places the SVD as central to the text early on to empower science and engineering students to learn and use potent practical and theoretical techniques. No rigour is lost in this new route as the text demonstrates that most theory is better proved with an SVD.

In addition to this, there is earlier introduction, development, and emphasis on orthogonality that is vital in so many applied disciplines throughout science, engineering, computing and increasingly within the social sciences.

To assimilate the so-called third arm of science, namely computing, Matlab/Octave computation is explicitly integrated into developing the mathematical concepts and applications. A strong graphical emphasis takes advantage of the power of visualisation in the human brain and examples are included to exhibit modern applications of linear algebra, such as GPS, text mining, and image processing. Active learning is encouraged with exercises throughout that are aimed to enhance ectures, quizzes, or 'flipped' teaching.