A new free book called "Think Linear Algebra" takes a code-first approach to teaching one of computer science's most foundational mathematical disciplines. Rather than starting with abstract theorems, the book uses real-world problems—modeling museum traffic, simulating pool ball collisions, analyzing electrical circuits—to build intuition before introducing formalism.

The book leverages Python and popular libraries including NumPy, SciPy, SymPy, and NetworkX throughout. Readers work in Jupyter notebooks, getting instant feedback as they write code, run simulations, and visualize results. This approach targets learners who've struggled with traditional math instruction, building understanding through hands-on experimentation rather than starting with mathematical notation.

Chapters cover practical applications like PageRank algorithms, GPS tracking analysis, structural engineering problems, and least squares regression—all implemented in working code. The book is available under a Creative Commons license, allowing free copying and distribution with attribution.