Math 300/ACSC 300                     Linear Algebra                      Spring 2008

Instructor
Office
Phone
Hours
E-mail
Web Page

John J. Currano
Auditorium Building, Room 418
(312) 341-3773
Mondays & Thursdays 4:30-5:45 & by appointment
jcurrano@roosevelt.edu
http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/currano/

Additional Course Documents (on the faculty web and RU Online)
Syllabus (this page in pdf)
Tutoring Schedule
Lecture Notes & Handouts (PowerPoint and pdf files)
Homework
Location.  Auditorium Building, Room 406, Thursdays 6:00 - 8:30.

Text.  Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 3rd Edition Update with CD-ROM, by David C. Lay
               Pearson/Addison Wesley, 2006, ISBN-10: 0321287134, ISBN-13: 9780321287137.

          Publisher's Student Resource Website for the Text

Prerequisite. A grade of C or better in MATH 231, Calculus 1; or a grade of C or better in MATH 245, Discrete Structures; or a grade of C or better in MATH 290, Mathematical Reasoning.

Course Description. This course is a first course in linear algebra. Topics will include vector spaces; linear transformations and matrices; inner products and orthogonality; eigenvectors; and diagonalization. In order to increase the likelihood of success in this course it is recommended that the student attend class without fail, religiously complete the homework, read the textbook, focus on understanding the concepts (not just the rote computations), and seek help from the professor and other sources when needed. 

Class. A significant portion of each class will consist of examples and problem solving, so be sure to do the assigned reading before class. Make note of topics you feel need elaboration in class, or, better yet, let me know before class which topics you feel need clarification. You are responsible for all assigned reading even if it is not discussed in class.

Course Materials.  The course syllabus, assignments, and other course materials will be available on the Roosevelt Faculty Web at http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/currano/m300/ and on the course site on RU Online (usually by a link to the material on the Faculty Web). Check one of these websites weekly since the course materials posted there reflect all changes, additions and corrections.

Technology. A TI-83/84 graphing calculator is recommended. All of the computational algorithms can be done on this calculator. After the first midterm, we shall routinely employ the calculator in our exercises. In addition, the software Maple can be used.

Communication. RU Online has a threaded Discussion Board where you can post comments, ask questions, and reply to the comments and questions of others, as well as facilities for emailing the instructor and your classmates. I usually respond to questions posted on the Discussion Board or sent by email within 48 hours. Email sent via RU Online, which I use to email the class, is sent to the recipient's Roosevelt email address, so please check your Roosevelt email regularly. You can also check your grades on RU Online. Logon and check it out.

Courtesy. Please turn off all cell phones or set them on vibrate before entering the classroom. Class discussions are encouraged, but please address your remarks to the entire class.

Homework problems from the textbook will be assigned each week and discussed and collected the following week. No late homework will be accepted.  Updated homework assignments are available for viewing and downloading on the web.

Quizzes. There will be occasional, unannounced quizzes.

Two Midterm Tests will be given. Each will be closed book and 75 minutes in length. There will be no make-ups except for excused absences with advance notice.

The Final Examination will be given on on Thursday, May 15, and will be closed book and comprehensive.  There will be no make-ups except for excused absences with advance notice.

Work must be shown in order to receive credit on homework, assignments, and tests.

Due Dates. All due dates for the course will be strictly enforced. No late work will be accepted without prior approval from the instructor.

Academic Integrity: Homework may be done collaboratively. Collaboration requires you to contribute to the solutions, work through the details on your own, and write your own solutions in your own words. Copying or rephrasing an answer or a solution (including the instructor's when problems are discussed in class) that is not your own is plagiarism. Plagiarism and cheating on a test or quiz are forms of Academic Dishonesty and will result in a grade of zero for a first offense and a grade of "F" in the course for a second offense. Second offenses will also be reported to the Assistant Vice President for Student Services. Roosevelt University's policies on Academic Integrity are on the web at http://www.roosevelt.edu/plagiarism/.

Grading:  Regulations covering grades are on pages 254-255 of the 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog. Incompletes will not be given, except to a student who has done passing work up to the Final Examination (including most of the homework) but misses the final exam because of an excused absence with advance notice. The last day to drop a class (with a grade of "W") is Friday, April 4, and the drop form must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by that date. Anyone registered after April 4th must be graded solely on her/his performance.

 
Determination of
Course Grade
Homework 15-20%
Quizzes 5-10%
Midterm Tests
(20% each)
40%
Final Exam 35%
Total 100%

 

 

 

 

Class Schedule (Tentative, Subject to Revision)

Date Sections Topics
January 31 1.1, 1.2 Linear Systems; Row Reduction & Echelon Forms
February 7 1.3, 1.4 Vector Equations; Matrix Equations
February 14 1.5, 1.7 Structure of Solution Sets; Linear Independence
February 21 1.8, 1.9 Linear Transformations & Matrix Representations
February 28 2.1, 2.2 Matrix Operations; Inverse of a Matrix
March 6 Test 1 Topics to be announced.
2.3 Characterization of Invertible Matrices
March 13 2.8
(4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
Subspaces of Rn
(Vector Spaces and Subspaces; Null Space; Column Space)
March 20   Spring Break
March 27 2.9 (4.5, 4.6) Dimension and Rank
April 3 5.1, 5.2 Eigenvalues & Eigenvectors; The Characteristic Equation
April 10 5.3, 5.4 Diagonalization; Eigenvectors & Linear Transformations
April 17 Test 2 Topics to be announced.
3.1, 3.2 Determinants
April 24 6.1, 6.2 Inner Product & Orthogonality; Orthogonal Sets
May 1 6.3, 6.5 Orthogonal Projections; Least-Squares Problems
May 8 4.9 Applications to Markov Chains; Review
May 15 Final Exam Comprehensive.

 
This page is at http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/currano/m300/Revised: January 30, 2008