Math 221 - Introduction to Linear Algebra
Summer 2007 - Matthias K. Gobbert
Section 6050 - Schedule Number 0190
This page can be reached via my homepage at
http://www.math.umbc.edu/~gobbert.
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
Linear Algebra deals with problems that are posed
in terms of matrices, which are rectangular arrays of numbers.
Typical problems include systems of linear equations
and eigenvalue/eigenvector problems.
The course also introduces the concepts and properties of vector spaces
to demonstrate the rationale and power of mathematical abstraction.
Linear Algebra is used in just about any scientific field,
for instance, economics, engineering, statistics, and, of course,
mathematics itself.
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
UMBC Academic Integrity Policy
By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of
an active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's
academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty.
Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts
are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong.
Academic misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include,
but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal.
To read the full Student Academic Conduct Policy, consult the
UMBC Student Handbook, the Faculty Handbook, the UMBC Integrity
webpage www.umbc.edu/integrity,
or the Graduate School website
www.umbc.edu/gradschool.
Copyright © 1999-2007 by Matthias K. Gobbert. All Rights Reserved.
This page version 1.1, May 2007.