Math 221 - Introduction to Linear Algebra

Basic Information

• Matthias K. Gobbert, Math/Psyc 416, (410) 455-2404, gobbert@math.umbc.edu,
  office hours: TTh 11:00-12:00 or by appointment
• Classes: room SOND 203, TTh 09:00-11:00 a.m.; please see the learning plan and detailed schedule for more information, in particular on the hybrid format of the course.
• Prerequisites: a grade of C or better in Math 151 or Math 155, or instructor approval
• Required textbook: David C. Lay, Linear Algebra and Its Applications, third edition, Addison-Wesley, 2003 (or updated printing 2006). Associated webpage: http://www.laylinalgebra.com This webpage makes available Chapter 1 and some other information in PDF-files, in case you have not obtained the textbook at this point!
• Grading policy:
  

  Homework	Quizzes	Participation	Test 1	Test 2
  10%	10%	10%	35%	35%

  Your professional behavior and active participation in all aspects of the course are required. In particular, you are required to read assigned sections in the textbook ahead of their coverage in class. See the learning goals and plan for more information on how all the components of the course are integrated.
  • The homework problems are listed on the homework page. Working the homework is vital to understanding the course material, and you are expected to work both the recommended and required problems; but turn in only the required problems, some of which will be graded. The homeworks are due at the beginning of class on the dates listed.
  • There will be two types of quizzes: (1) There are individual on-line quizzes for (nearly) every section covered by this course; they are administered within the course management system Blackboard and are due by class time on the day the section is scheduled to be covered in class (except for the sections covered in the first class). (2) There are group quizzes administered in class that take the form of group discussions; these learning groups will be assigned by the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Both types of quizzes are designed to provide you with quick feedback on your understanding of the material.
  • The participation measures your active participation in all aspects of the course, in particular for components of the course that are not otherwise graded, such as the work of your learning group and active participation in the Discussion Board; see below.
  • The tests are traditional in-class exams; to help you focus on what is relevant, they are closed-book, closed-notes, and no calculators/computers allowed. See the detailed schedule for the dates of the exams and their coverage.
  Late assignments cannot be accepted under any circumstances due to the organizational difficulties associated with the communcation with the grader; but a sufficient number of homework and quiz scores will be dropped in order to avoid penalizing infrequent absences. Additional details or changes will be announced as necessary. Announcements may be made in class, by e-mail, or in Blackboard. You are responsible for checking the course's Blackboard site and your UMBC e-mail address sufficiently frequently.
• Blackboard is a course management system that allows for posting and communicating among registered participants of a course. To log in, I suggest to go to myUMBC and then use the Blackboard link on the left. Then look for this course under "My Courses". We will actively only use the following areas in Blackboard:
  • Under "Course Documents", you will find all material for each section, including guidance on reading, worked-out examples, and the quizzes.
  • Under "Communication", we will use the Discussion Board for on-line discussions of questions on homework or any other class material. I will check the Board normally at least once a day, but to increase the speed to get answers, I encourage all of you to answer each others' questions, too. Extra credit will be given for actively helping other students with correct answers. In particular, the Discussion Board will be available and I will check it very frequently on the day preceeding each test.
  • I will also use Blackboard to send e-mail to the class. Therefore, you must either check your UMBC e-mail regularly or have the mail forwarded to an account that you check frequently.
  We will demonstrate and discuss the use of Blackboard during the first class.

Course Description

This course will develop both a proficiency with the terminology and calculation techniques of Linear Algebra and with the underlying concepts and their use to solve problems. This approach reflects the fact that it is both the calculation techniques and the fundamental concepts, including the language of Linear Algebra itself, that are ubiquitous in the application areas.

Course Details

• Learning goals and detailed learning plan
• Detailed schedule
• Homework assignments
• General policies and procedures including grading guidelines

UMBC Academic Integrity Policy