MTH 513 Linear Algebra

Spring 2010 - Course Webpage


James Baglama
Office: Lippitt Hall 101A
Department of Mathematics
Phone: 401.874.4412
Email: jbaglama@math.uri.edu

Paper

Course Materials

Homework

Exams and Grade Evaluation

Objectives

Sakai

  Students with Disabilities

H1N1 Flu

              Schedule and Homework


 

Final Exam Chapters 4, 5, 6 will be a take home. I will post the final exam in Sakai on Tuesday May 4 in the assignment tool section of our class website. Sharing or discussing solutions with other students will result in a failing grade. I will not give hints or answer questions about the exam. Do not ask, is this correct? You may hand write your solutions to the exam, however it MUST be neat. The exam is due in one week, by 11:55p.m. Tuesday May 11. You may upload your exam to Sakai or hand it in to me or place it in my mailbox before the due date. No late exams will be accepted. Again sharing of answers or ideas for a take home exam is considered cheating.

Course Material

Text:
Linear Algebra, 4/E
Authors: Friedberg, Insel, and Spence
ISBN-10: 0130084514
ISBN-13: 9780130084514

I suggest using amazon or another online book dealer to get the book. Please have the book before the start of the semester.

Additional texts:
Good reference books for this course.

Prerequisites:
Mathematical maturity and a basic knowledge of linear algebra, e.g. solving linear systems, matrices, rank, computing determinants, orthogonality, vector spaces, and linear transformations.


 

Objectives

The primary aim of MTH 513 is to gain an in depth knowledge of linear algebra. You will be introduced to basic concepts and facts of linear algebra. You will learn the terminology, fundamental principles, and common methods used in linear algebra. This course will prepare you to understand the abstract concepts behind linear algebra. We will study vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices, determinants, linear equations, eigenvalues, canonical forms, and inner product spaces.


 

Exams and Grade Evaluation
2 Exams 200 pts
Homework 0pts - 200pts
Paper 100 pts
Total points 300pts - 500pts
Grade is determined by summing up your points and dividing by the total number of points.
A    ..  100-92
A-  ..  91-90
B+  ..  89-87
B    ..  86-82
B-  ..  81-80
C+  ..  79-77
C    ..  76-72
C- or lower is considered failing in a 500 level course


 

Homework

Mathematics is learned by doing mathematics i.e. by working on problems. Thus doing your homework is the most important part of this class. One of the goals of the course is to improve your ability to think and write mathematics. Every homework assignment

Remarks: I will be happy to give you hints if you are stuck with your homework. However, I will NOT answer the problem for you. I encourage you to discuss homework problems with other students in the class. If you become stuck on a problem, fresh ideas from someone else might provide you with some new angles to try. Feel free to use any book to help with homework. Avoid the Internet! There are many wrong answers, incorrect methods, and hand waving proofs floating around in cyberspace. Finally, you must write up the solutions by yourself. (In practice, this means that you should not be looking at other people's solutions as you write your own.) If identical homework sets are handed in, all of the identical copies will received 0 points. A word-by-word copy of a solution from another source (including the internet) is not acceptable and will also receive 0 points. Suspicious homework may require additional explanation in person.


 

Paper

The paper is worth 100 points. The due date Monday April 19 2010. Do not wait until the last minute!


 

Sakai

Sakai is being used in part to teach this course. That means you should become familiar with using Sakai. You can access Sakai at the following web address: https://sakai.uri.edu/portal/ Use your e-campus id or your 9-digit URI student number and your @mail.uri.edu email password.


 

H1N1 Flu

Illness Due to Flu:
The H1N1 Flu Pandemic may impact classes this semester. If any of us develop flu-like symptoms, we are being advised to stay home until the fever has subsided for 24 hours. So, if you exhibit such symptoms, please do not come to class. Notify your instructor by phone or by email of your status. Your instructor will communicate by email or by phone with you. In this way you and your instructor will work together to ensure that course instruction and work is completed for the semester. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have posted simple methods to avoid transmission of illness. These include: covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; frequently washing your hands to protect from germs; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and staying home when you are sick. For more information, please view http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm URI information on the H1N1 will be posted on the URI website at http://www.uri.edu/news/h1n1, with links to the http://www.cdc.gov site.


 

Students with Disabilities

Any student with a documented disability should contact your instructor early in the semester so that he or she may work out reasonable accommodations with you to support your success in this course. Students should also contact Disability Services for Students: Office of Student Life, 330 Memorial Union, 874-2098. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.