MATH 2660 — Syllabus

MATH 2660: LINEAR ALGEBRA, SPRING 2007

Section A:  TR 2:30-3:45 (Goodwyn 318),   Course ID (CRN #):  1230

INSTRUCTOR

Yi Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Auburn University Montgomery

Department of Mathematics

College of Sciences

Room 310T, Goodwyn Hall

Email:  [email protected]

Homepage: http://sciences.aum.edu/~ywang

Phone: 334.244.3318

Office Hours: TR 3:50-5:20 or by appointment.          

 PREREQUISITES: MATH 1620.

TEXT: Linear Algebra and Its Applications with CD-ROM, Update, 3/E, Addison-Wesley, 2006. ISBN-10: 0321287134. ISBN-13: 9780321287137.

CALCULATORS:  All students are required to have a graphing calculator; the TI-84 (TI-83) is recommended. If you own some other graphing calculator, it is your responsibility to find out how to perform the required operations on it. Please bring the calculator to all class meetings and exams. You may use the calculator for each test, but you will be required to show all work for the tests and if you rely on the calculator for solutions, you will get zero credit. You are here to learn calculus and the calculator will be used only as an aid.

  COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Algebra of matrices; systems of linear equations; vector spaces; subspaces; bases; coordinatization; linear transformations and their matrix representation; determinants; eigenvalues; diagonalization.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

In this course we will be covering various sections from the following chapters:
Chapter 1: Linear Equations in Linear Algebra
Chapter 2: Matrix Algebra
Chapter 3: Determinants
Chapter 4: Vector Spaces
Chapter 5: Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
*Chapter 6: Orthogonality and Least Squares
*Chapter 7: Symmetric Matrices and Quadratic Forms

* indicates optional chapters on the contingency of time.

 

: This course will use WebCT http://webct.aum.edu. Syllabus, Class announcements, homework assignments, weekly schedule and updated grades will be posted on WebCT. On-line quizzes within WebCT will be offered. It is the students’ responsibility to check the information posted at webCT. I will also post from time to time some studying resources such as old exams on WebCT.

HOMEWORK/QUIZZES/WORKSHEETS:  It is imperative that you do the homework. If you have trouble with the assigned problems (or any others in your book) then see me ASAP. Please work as many problems as you can (even beyond the assigned list if possible). The bottom line is that if you want to learn some mathematics, the only way to do this is by “getting your hands dirty” working problems.  The collected Homework/Quizzes/worksheets will be averaged for part of your final grade. Sometimes in-class Quiz will be given without notice in advance.

LAST DAY TO  DROP/RESIGN CLASSES: Friday, March 23, 2007.

EXAMS: There will be three in-class mid-term tests and one final.  The final exam is comprehensive and is scheduled on Tuesday, May 08, 2007, at 1:30-4:00pm. Being absent from the Final Exam results in a grade of FA. You must prove to the instructor’s satisfaction that your absence was unavoidable, in order to take a makeup Final Exam.

GRADES: Here is a breakdown of the Homework/quizzes/worksheets/tests/final:

                                        Homework/Quiz/Worksheet Average….12% 

                                                     Test 1…………16%

                                                     Test 2…………16%

                                                     Test 3…………16%

                                                      Final………..…40%

 

            If you get the following percentage you will receive

                                                        90-100………A

                                                        80-89………..B

                                                        70-79………..C

                                                        60-69………..D

Grades in the course will reflect students’ demonstrated attainment of course objectives. I reserve the right to adjust these ranges downward if necessary because of excessive difficulty of assignments or tests. Borderline cases will be considered according to the attendance, grades of all three mid-exams and grade of the final.  

STUDYING RESOURCES:

1. SOME IMPORTANT POLICIES IN THIS CLASS: 

   1. ATTENDANCE is critical to get high points for the assessment of the Homework/Quiz/Worksheet part.  It may be taken form time to time. The attendances taken will be considered as  in-class quizzes and will also be used as one of the factors to determine borderline grades. 

   2. There is absolutely no make-up for the homework/quizzes/worksheets. Late work passing the given deadline is not accepted.

   3. Missing test/exam: No make-up test/exam is allowed. A missing test/exam receives a grade of zero. Inform me, in advance, if you should miss a test/exam and we will discuss the validity of your excuse.

   4. The percentage of the final can be  used to replace  the worst percentage of the three mid-exams if it’s higher.

   5. A reasonable excuse commonly  refers to an institutional excuse, a doctor-signed excuse, or an excuse signed by some authorized people. 

   HOW TO SUCCEED THIS COURSE?

   In addition to my effort, your efforts are indispensable. 

   (1) Except extreme cases, attending class only is far less sufficient to succeed (pass? ) the course. Let alone occasionally attending class.

   (2)  To get a grade C, one is advised to spend at least 1 hour (depending on your background in mathematics) for each lecture hour in reviewing the lecture notes, doing the examples in the lecture notes and in the book, and doing some homework problems.

   (3) To get a grade B, one is advised to spend at least 1-2 hours for  each lecture hour in reviewing the lecture notes, doing the examples in the lecture notes and in the book, and doing most of the  homework problems.

   (4) To get a grade A, one is advised to spend at least 1-3 hours for  each lecture hour in reviewing the lecture notes, doing the examples in the lecture notes and in the book, and doing almost all the  homework problems.

   I would suggest you to write down your objective grade for this course, and commit your effort to this milestone of your life goal. Again, I wish you succeed.

   My objective grade for this course is                         . I will commit         hours for each lecture hour to study the course materials. 

     GUIDELINES OF HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR FINAL GRADE:

   1. The overall score is calculated according to the contributions from quizzes/homework/worksheet (12%), three mid-exams (16% each) and final(40%).
   2. All raw scores are converted to percentage to participate in calculating and comparison. The maximum percentage is 100% for any given quiz or exam.
   3. A quiz in this syllabus refers to an in-class quiz, an attendance-taken, a collected homework, or a collected worksheet.
   4. Please note one to three quizzes with the lowest grades may be dropped.   A missed quiz is scored as 0 for that quiz. If the number of missed quizzes is less than or equal to the number of quizzes dropped, your missed quiz(es) will not affect your quiz points AT ALL.  Finally, the average percentage of all the quizzes are calculated for the points of the quiz part. 
   5. The percentage of the final is used to replace the worst percentage of the three mid-exams if it’s higher.
   The policy of this class is to encourage students who are diligent in this course and therefore any one who is serious about his/her study can take advantage of ONE opportunity to improve their grades.  

   APPEALS: After final course grades have been submitted, you may appeal your final grade. As a first step, you would make a written appeal to the instructor of the course.

   CLASS ATTENDANCE AND ENVIRONMENT: Perfect or near-perfect class attendance is important for students to gain and demonstrate competency in course concepts and skills. Students are expected to accept responsibility for class attendance and to complete in-class work assignments and examinations as scheduled by the instructor.

               Please be courteous to your fellow students and the instructor at all times. For example, do not converse with other students, read the newspaper, or sleep during the lecture.

   Cell phones have to be set to silent (or preferably be turned off). If you have to answer a cell phone call during class, please quietly leave the classroom and move to a location where your conversation does not disrupt any class in progress.

   Children should not be brought to class, except in emergency circumstances and only with the permission of the instructor.

   Food, drinks, or gum should not be brought into the classroom.

   AUM prohibits smoking in campus buildings. If you smoke, you may only do so outside the buildings.

   PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism or cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. You can discuss solutions with classmates, but cannot copy (totally or partially) someone else’s solution or allow someone else to copy your solution. You will receive an ”F” in the course if you are caught.

   DISCIPLINE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY. The policies of the Student Discipline Code apply. You are advised to familiarize yourself with these policies, which can be found in the current edition of the AUMANAC.  Please, adhere to the standards of academic integrity stated in the AUM Catalog.

   SPECIAL SERVICES.
   It is the policy of Auburn University Montgomery to accommodate individuals with disabilities pursuant to federal law and the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any necessary accommodations at the beginning of the course. If you qualify for this service, please contact either the AUM’s Center for Special Services (CSS) located in Library Tower, Room 706 (Phone: 334-244-3632, Fax:334-244-3907, TDD: 344-244-3754) or me for the corresponding referral.

   COPYRIGHT NOTICE

   Material presented in this course may be protected by copyright law.