Linear Algebra - Fall 1999

COURSE: MATH 2250-002

TIME: 2:15-3:25 T, 2:15-3:40 R, PLACE: 304 Brown Hall

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Robert Gardner, OFFICE: 308G Gilbreath Hall

OFFICE HOUR: 10:30-11:30 MWF, PHONE: 439-6977 (Math Office 439-4349)

OTHER OFFICE: Room 201 of Brown Hall (the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences), phone 439-8684.

E-MAIL ADDRESS: gardnerr@etsu.edu.

HOMEPAGE: www.etsu.edu/math/gardner/gardner.htm (see my homepage for a copy of this course syllabus and updates for the course).

TEXT: Linear Algebra, Ideas and Applications, by R. C. Penney.

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS: (each is on reserve in the library):

  1. Student Resource Manual to Accompany "Linear Algebra, Ideas and Applications," by R. C. Penney. Contains more worked out examples, further hints for some of the exercises, and translations of the computer exercises into various platforms.
  2. Instructor's Resource Manual to Accompany "Linear Algebra, Ideas and Applications," by R. C. Penney. This includes solutions to ALL problems in the text (including the "on line" exercises).

CALCULATORS: No calculator is required for this course. You will be allowed to use a calculator on all tests (though you won't really need one; you will be required to show all work, even if it only involves simple computations).

ABOUT THE COURSE: Linear Algebra (or "Matrix Theory") is one of the most useful areas of mathematics. It is applicable in mathematics itself in areas ranging from Calculus and Discrete Math to Functional Analysis. It is applicable in statistics (least-squares methods and transition matrices), biology (population distributions and genetics), physics (theoretical and applied), computer science (in coding theory and cryptography) and almost any other area that uses numbers! We will try to illustrate some of these applications in this class.

A NOTE ON TIME: I have "domestic obligations" on Tuesdays starting around 3:45, so I will need to leave as early as possible on those days. You will notice that all scheduled tests are for Thursdays, so you may have extra time on them, if needed.

GRADING: We will have four tests (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and a comprehensive final (F). Your average will be computed as follows:

AVERAGE = (T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 + 2F)/6.
Grades will be assigned based on a 10 point scale with "plus" and "minus" grades being assigned as appropriate.

MATH LAB: The Mathematics Laboratory is located in Rooms 308 and 309 of Warf-Pickle Hall. It is staffed by graduate students and upper level undergraduates. They are there to help you!

Tentative Outline

DATE AGENDA HOMEWORK
TUE 8/31 1.1 = intro, vectors 1.1 = 1--21 odd
THR 9/2 1.2 = vector spaces of matrices 1.2 = 1--27 odd
TUE 9/7 1.2 (cont.), 1.3 = linear equations 1.3 = 1--11 odd
THR 9/9 1.3 (cont.), 1.4 = Gaussian elimination 1.4 = 1--17 odd
TUE 9/14 1.4 (cont.), 1.5 = column space and nullspace 1.5 = 1--33 odd
THR 9/16 1.5 (cont.) -
TUE 9/21 review, 2.1 = linear independence 2.1 = 1--13 odd
THR 9/23 TEST 1 (1.1 -- 1.5) -
TUE 9/28 2.2 = dimension 2.2 = 1--31 odd
THR 9/30 2.2 (cont.), 2.3 = applications of systems 2.3 = 1--17 odd
TUE 10/5 2.3 (cont.), 3.1 = matrix transformations 3.1 = 1--27 odd
THR 10/7 3.1 (cont.), 3.2 = matrix multiplication 3.2 = 1--27 odd
TUE 10/12 3.3 = image of a transformation, review 3.3 = 1--21 odd
THR 10/14 TEST 2 (2.1 -- 3.2) -
TUE 10/19 3.3 (cont.), 3.4 = inverse matrices 3.4 = 1--31 odd
THR 10/21 3.4 (cont.), 4.1 = coordinates 4.1 = 1--13 odd
TUE 10/26 4.1 (cont.) -
THR 10/28 4.2 = Gram-Schmidt process 4.2 = 1--17 odd
TUE 11/2 4.2 (cont.), 4.4 = orthogonal matrices 4.4 = 1--13 odd
THR 11/4 4.4 (cont.) -
TUE 11/9 review, 5.1 = determinants 5.1 = 1--11 odd
THR 11/11 TEST 3 (3.3 -- 4.4) -
TUE 11/16 5.1, 5.2 = reduction and determinants 5.2 = 1--15 odd
THR 11/18 6.1 = eigenvectors 6.1 = 1--17 odd
TUE 11/23 6.2 = diagonalization 6.2 = 1--17 odd
THR 11/25 Thanksgiving Holiday -
TUE 11/30 review -
THR 12/2 TEST 4 (5.1 -- 6.2) -
TUE 12/7 6.5 = orthogonal diagonalization 6.5 = 1--15 odd
THR 12/9 review -
TUE 12/14 Comprehensive Final (2:15--3:35) -

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