MATH 242 Linear Algebra
Syllabus for Fall 2014

Mon & Fri, 9:00 – 9:50am
Wed, 9:00 – 10:50am
326 Gildemeister Hall

Instructor: Dr. Eric Errthum              Winona Email Username: eerrthum             Office: 205 Gildemeister Hall            Office Hours:  See homepage. Or by appointment on any day.

Prerequisite: MATH 212 (Calculus I) or a qualifying score on the mathematics placement exam

Text:   A First Course in Linear Algebra by Robert A. Beezer. This text is a free online text: http://linear.ups.edu/html/fcla.html.
DO NOT TRY TO PRINT IT OUT: It would be about 700 pages and would completely lose its interactive nature. If you really want to have a physical copy, they sell them (for about $35) on Amazon.com.

Computational Software:     This course will use the free computational software SAGE. SAGE is integrated in the online version of the text, available separately online (https://cloud.sagemath.com/) and as an app for the ipad. So it’ll probably be a good idea to bring your laptop to class so you can access the text and SAGE if needed.

Course Website:     http://course1.winona.edu/eerrthum/math242

About This Course:  This course is intended to provide the student with a clear understanding of the basic ideas of linear algebra. We will focus on computation and theory.

Expectations: Students who complete this course with a passing grade are expected to be able to demonstrate the following skills: (i) Mastery of prerequisite material, (ii) Solve systems of linear equations and compute eigenvector information, (iii) Understand, determine, and apply properties of vectors, matrices, and vector spaces, (iv) understand general linear transformations including definitions and theorems, (v) use technology appropriately to solve problems.

Grading:  Reading Questions (228 possible points)                  210 points---- 28.00%
                  SAGE Homeworks (12 @ 15pts, drop lowest)        165 points---- 22.00%
                  Chapter Exams (6 @ 50 pts, drop lowest)                250 points---- 33.33%
                  SAGE Take Home Final                                             25 points----- 3.33%
                  Comprehensive Final                                                 100 points---- 13.34%
                                                                                                    --------------

                                                                                                     750 points total

Grades:  A = 90% (675 pts), B = 80% (600 pts), C = 70% (525 pts), D = 60% (450 pts)

Reading Questions:   I will expect that you have read the section of material before I present on it, including working through any examples or SAGE computations. Then each section of the text ends with three Reading Questions. Hand in typed responses at the beginning of the class whose lecture will cover that material (see schedule below). Handwritten submissions will not be accepted. Each answer will be graded on a 2 point scale. Any indication of copying from fellow students and/or other academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the whole section.

SAGE Homeworks:  Each in-class SAGE activity will be followed by a corresponding homework assignment to be completed in SAGE. Use the “Print” option in SAGE to create a PDF version of your input and output to print off and hand in at the beginning of class the following Monday. Again, any indication of copying from fellow students and/or other academic dishonesty will result in a zero for that assignment.

SAGE Resources:     If you’ve never programmed before, the SAGE examples in our text will help build your ability. If you are looking for more resources, try Googling (e.g. “How to find determinant in SAGE”). It’s a funny thing: people interested in computers really like putting things online, so there are a lot of resources on coding. Also, you can come see me.

Homework:    Each section in the text is followed by a set of exercises. You are strongly encouraged to work through these exercises (again, prior to coming to class). Suggested problem numbers are given in the schedule below. Most of the exercises are immediately followed by their solution, so answers to the exercises will never be collected. Remember: Mathematics is not a spectator sport and it’s only through doing that you’ll find understanding.

http://37.media.tumblr.com/923ea3d8c6d2d43831998571b03b36f6/tumblr_mlyrq3ODiZ1rvnpe0o1_500.png

Chapter Exams & Final Exam:       There will be six in-class exams. Questions on the exams will be based on the uncollected homework which will mostly be of type M or type T, but some type C. You will not be able to use SAGE on your exams. The first half of the final exam will be like a seventh in-class exam. The second half of the final exam will be comprehensive. There will be a take-home portion of the final that will involve SAGE. Exam dates are tentative until officially announced in class. The final exam is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9th at 8AM.

Extra Credit: Frequently quizzes and exams will contain bonus problems where students will have the chance to earn extra credit points. No other extra credit will be offered. .

Desire2Learn:            Some course materials, solutions to activities and homework, and approximate grades can be found on D2L. If at any point during the semester you would like to know your exact grade, please email the instructor.

Late/Missed Work:   Missed quizzes will result in a score of zero. There are no make-up quizzes. Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain notes and assignments from fellow students. If you have an unavoidable absence, please inform the instructor beforehand.

Academic Dishonesty:           Any type of academic dishonesty (cheating, copying, etc.) will result in a score of zero and/or will be reported to school authorities. If you are having trouble with an assignment, please see the instructor first.

Note:         This syllabus is subject to change if deemed necessary by the instructor.

Tentative Schedule of Events – Math 242

(subject to change)

Week Starting

Monday

Wednesday
first hour

Wednesday
second hour

Friday

8/25

Syllabus

Section WILA
Section SSLE

Suggested: SSLE.M10 – M14, T10

SAGE Activity

Intro-WILA-SSLE

Section RREF

Suggested: RREF.M45, M50, T10, T11

9/1

No Class
Labor Day

SAGE Intro-WILA-SSLE Due

Section TSS

Suggested: TSS.M46, M51 – M57, M70

SAGE Activity

RREF-TSS

Section HSE
Section NM

Suggested: HSE.M50 – M52, T10, T20
Suggested: NM.M30, M51, M52, T10, T12, T30

9/8

SAGE RREF-TSS Due

SAGE HSE-NM activity

Exam SLE

Section VO

Section LC 

Suggested: VO.T05 – T07, T30, T31

Suggested: LC.C40, C41, M10

9/15

SAGE HSE-NM Due

Section SS

Suggested: SS.M10 – M12, T10, T20 – T22

 Section SS, cont.

SAGE VO-LC-SS Activity

Section LI

Suggested: LI.M20, M21, M50, M51, T12, T13, T15

9/22

Section LDS

Section O
Suggested: LDS.M10, T40

SAGE VO-LC-SS Due

Section O, cont.

Suggested: O.M60, T11, T20

SAGE LI-LDS-O Activity

Exam V

9/29

Section MO

Suggested: MO.C14, M22, M25, T13-T18, T34 – T36

SAGE LI-LDS-O Due

Section MM

Suggested: MM.C23, C25, C32, T20-T23, T31-T35, T50

SAGE MO-MM Activity

Section MISLE

Section MINM

Suggested: MISLE.C23, C26, C40, T10

10/6

MINM, cont.

Section CRS

Suggested: MINM.M10, M11, M80, T10, T11
Suggested: CRS.C31, T40

SAGE MO-MM Due

Section CRS, cont.

Section FS

Suggested: CRS.C33

SAGE MISLE-MINM-CRS Activity

Section FS, cont.

Suggested: FS.C25, C61

10/13

Exam M

Section VS

Suggested: VS.M11 – M21, T21 – T30

Vector Space Activity

Section S

Suggested: S.C20, C21, M20, T20, T30, T31

10/20

Section LISS

Section B

 

Suggested: LISS.C20 – C24, C40, C42, T20, T50, T51

Suggested: B.C10, C11, C13, C14, T50

No Class
University Improvement Day

Section D

Section PD

 

Suggested: D.C22, C36, M20

Suggested: PD.T15, T20, T25, T60

10/27

Section DM

 

Suggested: DM.C21, C23, C27, M10, M11, M15, M16, M30

Exam VS

Section PDM
Suggested: PDM.M30, T20

SAGE Activity

11/3

Section EE

Suggested: EE.C10 - C12, C19, C20, C26, C27, T10, T20

Section PEE
Suggested: PEE.T10, T20

Section SD
Suggested: SD.T15-T17

SAGE Activity

11/10

Sick Day
No Class

Exam D & E

Section LT
Section VR
Section MR

Section ILT
Section VR, cont.
Section MR, cont.

11/17

Section SLT

Section VR, cont.
Section MR, cont.

Section IVLT
Section VR, cont.
Section MR, cont.

Linear Transformation Activity

Application to Statistics:
Principal Component Analysis

11/24

Exam LT

No Class
Thanksgiving

12/1

Reading Questions for
VR, MR due

Markov Chains

Linear Transformation
Activity Due

Markov Chains, cont.

Markov Chain Activity

Reading Questions for CB, OD Due

 Review?

 

Final Exam

Tuesday, December 8,

8:00 – 10:00am

 

 

Welcome to college math!

 

If this is your first math class taken in college, there are some important things you need to know. College math classes are run very differently from high school math classes. On the surface it may seem they are similar as you listen to the lecture and take notes, but there are significant underlying differences. Knowing these ahead of time can help you make the most of this coming semester.

 

#1: College math classes generally stay on the schedule in the syllabus. If there is one day allotted to the topic that is probably all of the class time that will be spent on it, even if “most” of the students “don’t get it.”

 

#2: It is expected that you will read the text and do the problems in order to learn the material, even if no one checks up on you. The instructor might never collect the homework, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect your grade.

 

#3: You will sometimes be responsible for material in the textbook that is not covered in class. If there is a text reading and/or homework problems covering a concept that was not discussed in class, you are still expected to learn it. If you don’t understand it, make an appointment with your instructor for help.

 

#4: Some material is covered only in class, is not in the textbook, and may not have any homework problems on it. If you miss class, you may miss content that you are responsible to know. If you have an unavoidable absence, be sure to get the notes and any announcements from a classmate.

 

#5: There will be test questions that don’t look “just like the homework.” In college, you are expected to focus on learning the concepts, not just memorizing how to do certain types of problems. These concepts can – and will – appear in very different forms on tests and quizzes.

 

#6: At times you will be expected to be able to explain why a problem is done a certain way in addition to being expected to do the problem. As you work on problems in class and on homework, don’t be satisfied with getting the correct answer; ask yourself why that method is logical, and how you could explain that logic to someone else.

 

#7: Most importantly, you are responsible for your own learning. If you attend class faithfully, get the notes and announcements if you have an unavoidable absence, read the text, do the homework and question yourself (as in #6), and still don’t understand something, it is up to you to get the extra help you need. Visit the instructor during office hours or make a special appointment to ask questions, form a study group, etc. There are many resources and people willing and happy to help, but you need to take the initiative and seek out the help you need.

 

Good luck on a happy and successful semester!

 

 

Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

WSU recognizes that our individual differences can deepen our understanding of one another and the world around us, rather than divide us. In this class, people of all ethnicities, genders and gender identities, religions, ages, sexual orientations, disabilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, regions, and nationalities are strongly encouraged to share their rich array of perspectives and experiences.  If you feel your differences may in some way isolate you from WSU’s community or if you have a need of any specific accommodations, please speak with the instructor early in the semester about your concerns and what we can do together to help you become an active and engaged member of our class and community. 

Campus Resources

Details about Campus Resources

 

The Standard Disclaimer applies.

© Eric Errthum, November 2014, all rights reserved.