Course Information
Math 327: Linear Algebra – Section 01, Spring 2012
4 Credits: MWF 11:30a.m. – 12:20p.m.
Bridges Room 264
Textbook: Elementary Linear
Algebra with Applications, 9th ed., B. Kolman
& R. Hill [Required]
Office: MacLean 375M Office Phone: (218)477-4011
Office Hours: MTWF 8:30am –
9:20am Email:
jamesju@mnstate.edu
MWF 10:30am – 11:20am Webpage: web.mnstate.edu/jamesju
MTWF
1:30pm – 2:20pm
Other times by
Appointment
Course Description: Systems of linear equations, Gauss-Jordan
elimination, linear programming, matrices, determinants, vector spaces, linear
transformations, and eigenvectors.
Prerequisite:
MATH 262
Key Course Content Areas:
1. Systems of Linear Equations and solutions by
matrix methods.
2. Matrices and matrix operations and
transformations, lncluded special types of matrices.
3. Determinants, their properties, and proofs using
determinants.
4. Vectors in 3-space
5. Abstract vector spaces, proofs involving vectors
and vector spaces, subspaces.
6. Linear dependence, rank of matrix.
7. Linear Transformations, kernels and ranges
8. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to do the
following:
·
Use matrix methods to solve a variety of problems.
·
Prove a variety of results, both abstract and
concrete, using concepts related to linear algebra and
vector spaces.
·
Understand the importance of definitions and axioms
in abstract mathematics.
Course Requirements: You are expected to complete all daily
homework and writing assignments, and to take and pass all exams and quizzes at
their scheduled dates and times.
Instructional Strategies: Lecture, discussion, small group work.
Attendance and Academic
Expectations: You
are expected to attend class regularly and on time.
The
penalty for unexcused absences is
that missed assignments cannot be made up.
You are expected to read the assigned material in your textbook prior to
each lecture and to attempt the problems on the homework assignment. When working in groups, you should
participate fully in what the group is trying to accomplish. You are encouraged to form a group to study
and work with outside of class. You
should bring your book, calculator, and solutions to recent homework problems
with you to class.
Homework: I will collect
homework for grading
several times during the semester. You
will be told in class at least two days in advance which problems to write up
and turn in. Even when homework is not
collected, you will need to complete assigned homework problems in order to
learn the related course material. Most
days, I will spend a few minutes at the beginning of class answering homework
questions, but the bulk of our class time will be spent covering new
material. You are encouraged to discuss
homework with your classmates and with me outside of class during my office
hours. If my office hours do not match
your schedule, feel free to contact me to arrange another time to meet.
Quizzes: I will give quizzes
at various times during the course. Most
will be “in-class” quizzes, while a few may be “take home” quizzes. I typically announce quizzes at least one day
before I give them so you have time to prepare for them. Quizzes will be worth from 5-10 points,
depending on their length and scope. We will have short quizzes on definitions
and Theorems nearly every Friday in
class.
Extra Credit: There may be a few extra credit
assignments during the semester (don’t count on more than a handful). Some will be announced on the course website
while others will be given in class. All
extra credit will be given to the entire class and must be handed in by
the due date. There will be no
individual extra credit assignments.
Reflection Papers: Twice
during the semester, you will be given a writing assignment in which you will
be asked to give your personal thoughts and reflections on different aspects of
the course. These papers must be typed
and should be about 1 page in length (typed, double spaced). These informal papers will be graded mainly
on their content and completeness, but you should write in complete sentences
and express your thoughts clearly. Each
reflection paper contributes 10 points toward your final grade.
Exams: This
course will have five in-class exams and a comprehensive
final exam, as outlined on the course schedule. Be sure to mark the date of each exam on your
calendar, especially the final exam. In
class exams will be closed book and closed notes.
I
will allow the use of an approved calculator on exams, but
other electronic devices (cell-phones, etc.) are not allowed. In particular,
calculators that are able to do “symbolic manipulation” are not
allowed. On some quizzes and exams,
graphing calculators will also not be allowed – I will announce
this beforehand.
The
credit given on exam questions will be proportional to the amount of correct
work shown. Little to no credit will be
given if sufficient work is not shown, even when the final answer is correct. In your final grade, your best four
in-class exams will be worth 100 points each, while your lowest exam will be scaled in half to be out of 50 points. The final exam is worth 200 points.
Course
Grading Policy: Your final grade in the course will be computed as
follows:
Homework/Quizzes 230 points
Reflection Papers
20 points
Highest 4 Unit Exams: 400 points
Lowest Unit Exam:
50 points
Final Exam: 200 points
Total: 900
points
I
will compute the percentage of the total possible points each student earned
during the semester (rounded to the nearest .1%), and will then assign letter
grades based on the following scale. I
may make slight adjustments to this scale (down, never up), but don’t count on
this happening.
96.5-100.0% A+ 81.5-86.4% B 69.0-71.4% C–
91.5-96.5% A 79.0-81.4% B– 66.0-68.9% D+
89.0-91.4% A– 76.5-78.9% C+ 60.0-65.9% D
86.5-88.9% B+ 71.5-76.4% C <60.0% F
Make-up
Work: Because you are allowed to drop several scores, I will
only give make-up assignments for emergencies
or for absences which are officially sanctioned by the University. I will expect written documentation in either
of these cases. If you miss an exam and
a make-up exam is not warranted, you may replace your grade on one missed exam with your un-scaled percentage score on the final
exam.
Special Accommodations: Students
with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are
encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Director of
Disability Services at 477-4318 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), Flora
Frick 154 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in
a timely fashion.
Academic Honesty: You are expected to do your own
work. You may work with others and get help on assignments, but the work
you submit must be your own. During exams and quizzes you will not
be allowed to get help from others. Cheating and plagiarism are not
tolerated in any course at any level. See the MSUM Academic Honesty
policy for more information on the possible consequences of cheating.
Copying solutions from the back of the textbook or the student solutions manual
is considered plagiarism and will be dealt with accordingly.
Thanks,
And Let’s Have A Great Semester!!
Math
327 – Section 01 Course Page