 |
Introduction to Linear AlgebraMAT 211 (LEC 4)Fall 2009 |
| Mathematics department | |
| Chris Beasley |
| Instructor | Syllabus | Homework | Exams | Help |
|---|
About this course: This course provides an elementary introduction to linear algebra. It covers systems of linear equations, Gauss-Jordan elimination, matrices and determinants, vector (linear) spaces and linear transformations, bases, dimension, the Kernel-Image theorem, inner-product spaces, orthogonality, Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization. Algebraic objects are considered together with their geometric interpretations.
Text: Linear Algebra with Applications, 4th edition,
by Otto Bretscher.
Calculators:
A calculator is not required for this course. No calculators will be allowed on exams.
Homework:
Homework is an essential part of this course. Assignments will be posted on the course website at the address below, and they will be collected promptly each Wednesday at the start of class. Under no circumstances will late homework be accepted.
You are encouraged to discuss the problems with other students in the class. However, you -- and only you -- are responsible for the write-up. All the work you hand in must be your own and should not be copied from anyone else. Suspiciously similar solutions will receive no credit.
Students should expect a significant amount of homework, up to 6 - 8 hours per week. I highly recommend that students begin working on
the homework assignments as soon as possible. Office hours on Monday afternoon provide an excellent opportunity to ask questions or to get help on the homework assignment due Wednesday.
Working through the homework sets by hand is by far the best way to learn linear algebra. The use of calculators or computers is not permitted on either the homework or the exams.
All homework assignments are taken from the Fourth Edition of Bretscher. Any students using earlier editions of the text should
check the numbering of problems in their edition with the Fourth. A copy of the course textbook is available in the Math Learning Center, Math S-240A.
Examinations and grading:
There will be two in-class midterms and a cumulative final exam. The dates are listed below. Success on the exams will require correct and efficient solutions to the more difficult homework problems.
| What | When | % of Final Grade | |
| Midterm 1 | Friday, October 16 | 9:35-10:35 am | 25% |
| Midterm 2 | Friday, November 13 | 9:35-10:35 am | 25% |
| Final Exam | Monday, December 14 | 11:15 am - 1:45 pm | 35% |
| Homework | 15% | ||
Make sure that you can attend the exams at the scheduled times; make-ups will not be given. If one midterm exam is missed because of a serious (documented) illness or emergency, the semester grade will be determined based on the balance of the work in the course.
No cellphone use of any kind is permitted during exams.
Reading:
Before coming to class, you are encouraged to read each section of the text indicated in the weekly syllabus, posted above.
Office Hours:
Office hours will be on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:00 pm, and they will be held in Physics D-101.
If you have a question and cannot come to the regularly scheduled office hours, you can always make anappointment with the instructor via email at the address below or by telephone at 632-4168.
Math Learning Center:
The Math
Learning Center [Math
S-240A] is also available if you need to get help with the
course. It is
staffed most days and some evenings. A schedule should be posted
outside the Math Learning Center and at the Undergraduate Mathematics
Office.
Miscellaneous:
Please remember to turn off all cellular devices during class.
Disabilities:
If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services at http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/ or (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are
encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and
Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the
following website:
Critical Incident Management:
Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, and/or inhibits students' ability to learn.
Academic Integrity:
Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be
personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another
person's
work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to
report any
suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary.
For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including
categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic
judiciary
website at