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Why Linear Algebra named in that way? Especially, why we call it linear? What does it mean?

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    I always thought it was because Linear Algebra is pretty straight forward...2011-09-08
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    Now that we have answers, we need some references to back them up. Or are they just guesses?2011-09-08
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    I think that, more accurately, it should be called _affine_ algebra, since equations describing spaces are affine equations, usually referred-to as linear equations.2011-09-08
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    Affine functions don't satisfy f(ax)=af(x) or f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y), and hence aren't representable as matrices without artificially extending the domain, which is presumably why the field is called *linear* rather than *affine* algebra. Or have I misunderstood you?2011-09-08
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    Right, and that is my point; often systems of equations to be solved are described as systems of linear equations, when the equations in the system are not those of linear objects, i.e., these objects do not go through the origin. I have seen , e.g., the "system of linear equations" given by $2x+3y=5$ and $3x-5y=6$; in neither of the two equations does y depend on x linearly.2011-09-08
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    @GEdgar, I've added some references in my answer.2011-09-08
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    in LP, the objective function and the constraints are all of degree 1 (linear). Also, linear algebra is used in solving the problems. The above derives one to think that this may be part of the reason for the name. Who came up with the name anyway?2018-02-03

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