Linear Algebra
Math 2250, Fall 2008


Table of Contents


Quizzes and solutions:

Quizzes: 1   2   3   4   Test 1   5   6   7   8x   Test 2   8   9   10   11   12   final  
Solutions: 1   2   3   4   Test 1   5   6   7   8x   Test 2   8   9   10   11   12   final  

Note that Quiz 8 is the one given Nov 14, while 8x refers to the one which would have been given on Halloween, the day class was interrupted.

Extra credit assignment: this is a list of incorrect assertions which occurred in solutions to Quiz 8. For each one, give a brief explanation of why it is incorrect or (in a few cases) correct but not relevant to the linearity of the transformation T:F-->F. (19 points possible, due Friday 21 November)


Class:


Professor:


Requirements and grades:

The secret to doing well is to attend class and to read the book. You should read each section before we talk about it in class, then again after class, before doing the homework for the section. If you have any trouble understanding it, read it several times, first, quickly for an overall idea what the section is about, then in detail, working out the examples the book uses to make sure you know why each statement is true. Only after this should you start the homework. You may be pleasantly surprised how much easier the homework is with this sort of preparation. You will certainly understand the material and retain more of it, if you study in this way.

Special attention will be paid to the quality of the writing you turn in. Mathematics consists of logical relations between ideas, not just calculations. Understanding and explaining the logical relationships will make your work easier to do, for you, and easier to understand, for those who read it.

There will be weekly quizzes each Friday, of about 10 minutes duration, which will help you assess your understanding of the material. The best 10 of these (out of 13) will be counted toward your final grade. The quiz and a solution to it will be posted on Blackboard under Course Documents after the quiz has been given.

Grades will be computed as follows:


Test 1 25 %
Test 2 25 %
Quizzes 15 %
Final 35 %

Naturally, all work you turn in should be your own. The University has strict policies on intellectual honesty.

Schedule:

The first class is Wednesday, September 3, 2008 and the last class is Wednesday, December 10, 2008.

Here is a schedule of the exams and the material we will cover.

Test 1 Monday, October 6
Test 2 Friday, November 7 (Note change)
Final Exam      Tuesday, December 16, 8:00 - 10:30 AM

Each test will cover the material we have done up to that point, and will be preceded by a review day.

Chapter 1      Vectors, matrices, and linear systems
Chapter 2 Dimension, rank, and linear transformations
Chapter 3 Vector spaces
Chapter 4 Determinants
Chapter 5 Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
and, as time permits, as much as we can of
Chapter 6 Orthogonality
Chapter 7 Basis change


Assignments

(A link to the web page containing the list of assignments.)