Professor: Jeff Johannes
Section 3
MWF 1:30-2:20p Sturges 105
Office:
South 326A
Telephone: 5403 (245-5403)
Office Hours: Monday 2:30 - 3:20p, Tuesday 10:30 -
11:20a, 8:00 - 9:00p, Wednesday 12:30 - 1:20p, Thursday 8:00 - 9:00p, and by
appointment or visit
Email Address: Johannes@Geneseo.edu
Web-page: http://www.geneseo.edu/~johannes
Course Materials
A
First Course in Linear Algebra, by K. Kuttler
TI-89 or higher or TI-nSpire CAS
Purposes
- to explore any and all algebraic consequences of lineness
- to see how lines, planes, and their higher dimensional analogues
interact geometrically
- to develop fluency with matrices, the notation of linear algebra, and
the associated vocabulary of linear algebra
Overview
Linear algebra is the algebra of anything resembling
straight lines. And since lines were the first algebraic objects you
studied, this can't be bad, right? Well, yes and no. Linear
algebra is based on the most basic of algebraic fundamentals. And then
planes are like lines. And lines in three dimensions are like lines in
two dimensions. But they're a little more complicated. And away
we go. Linear algebra is about the simplest geometry (linear) of
higher dimensions. Along the way we will also study vectors and
matrices as valuable notation for working in different dimensions.
Reading
For each class day there is
an assigned reading. Read the section before coming to
class. I feel the book is detailed, but I will naturally not always
agree with their choices in presentation. It is best to play along
with the reading - read with paper and pencil and follow along with the
steps they take. We will spend class-time talking about questions from
the reading and discussions of an alternative point of view on the
topics. If you do not do the reading, attending class will be like
listening to friends talk about a film you haven't seen.
Reading
Quizzes
You are responsible for reading the sections before they are discussed in
class. The schedule is given below. Occasionally - as I see it
necessary - we will have short (two minute) reading quizzes to check that
the reading is being done. As the class shows this is not necessary,
they will become less frequent. Most will not be announced.
The reading quizzes may be as straight forward as - "Write enough to
convince me you did the reading." There will be no makeup reading
quizzes.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Solve systems of linear equations,
• Analyze vectors in R^n
geometrically and algebraically,
• Recognize the concepts of the terms
span, linear independence, basis, and dimension, and apply these concepts
to various vector spaces and subspaces,
• Use matrix algebra and the related
matrices to linear transformations,
• Compute and use determinants,
• Compute and use eigenvectors and
eigenvalues,
• Determine and use orthogonality,
and
• Use technological tools such as
computer algebra systems or graphing calculators for visualization and
calculation of linear algebra concepts.
Grading
Your grade in this course will be based upon your
performance on homework, quizzes and three exams. The weight assigned
to each is designated below:
Problem Sets
(6) 5% each
Quizzes (3)
5% each
Reading Quizzes (?) 5%
In-class exams (2)
15% each
Final exam (1)
20%
Problem Sets
There will be problem sets assigned at the beginning of
the course. Problem sets will be due shortly after each chapter
ends. You are encouraged to consult with me outside of class on any
questions toward completing the problem sets. You are also encouraged
to work together on homework assignments, but each must write up their own
well-written solutions. A good rule for this is it is encouraged to
speak to each other about the problem, but you should not read each other's
solutions. A violation of this policy will result in a zero for the
entire assignment and reporting to the Dean of Students for a violation of
academic integrity. Each question will be counted in the following
manner:
0 – missing or plagiarised question
1 – question copied
2 – partial question
3 – completed question (with some solution)
4 – completed question correctly and well-written
Each entire problem set will then be graded on a 90-80-70-60% (decile)
scale. Late items will not be accepted, as solutions will be posted
immediately. Homework will be returned on the following class
day. Please feel free to discuss any homework with me outside of class
or during review.
Solutions
and Plagiarism
There are plenty of places that one can find all kinds of solutions to
problems in this class. Reading them and not referencing them in
your work is plagiarism, and will be reported as an academic integrity
violation. Reading them and referencing them is not quite
plagiarism, but does undermine the intent of the problems.
Therefore, if you reference solutions you will receive 0 points, but you
will *not* be reported for an academic integrity violation. Simply -
please do not read any solutions for problems in this class.
Opening
Meeting
Students will earn two extra points on the first
problem set by visiting office hours during the first two weeks of
classes, i.e. no later than 10 September.
Quizzes
There will be short quizzes after problem sets have been
returned, covering the material from the problem set. For problem sets
immediately preceding exams, there will be no quiz. Quizzes will
consist of short pencil-paper computations taken directly from your textbook
(perhaps only part of a question), and will have limited opportunity for
partial credit. Because quizzes will consist of routine questions, they will
be graded on a decile scale. There will be no makeup quizzes.
Exams
There will be two exams during the semester and a final
exam during finals week. If you must miss an exam, it is necessary
that you contact me before the exam begins. Exam questions will
be taken directly from your textbook (perhaps only part of a
question). The final exam will be half an exam focused on the final
third of the course, and half a cumulative exam. Exams will be graded
on a scale approximately (to be precisely determined by the content of each
individual exam) given by
100 – 80% A
79 – 60% B
59 – 40% C
39 – 20% D
below 20% E
For your interpretive convenience, I will also give you an exam grade
converted into the decile scale. The exams will be challenging and
will require thought and creativity. They will not include filler
questions (hence the full usage of the grading scale).
Feedback
Occasionally you will be given anonymous feedback
forms. Please use them to share any thoughts or concerns for how the
course is running. Remember, the sooner you tell me your concerns, the
more I can do about them. I have also created a web-site
which
accepts anonymous comments. If we have not yet discussed this in
class, please encourage me to create a class code. This site may also
be accessed via our course page
on a link entitled anonymous
feedback. Of course, you are always welcome to approach me
outside of class to discuss these issues as well.
Social Psychology
Wrong answers are important. We as individuals
learn from mistakes, and as a class we learn from mistakes. You may
not enjoy being wrong, but it is valuable to the class as a whole - and to
you personally. We frequently will build correct answers through a
sequence of mistakes. I am more impressed with wrong answers in class
than with correct answers on paper. I may not say this often, but it
is essential and true. Think at all times - do things for
reasons. Your reasons are usually more interesting than your
choices. Be prepared to share your thoughts and ideas. Perhaps
most importantly "No, that's wrong." does not mean that your comment is not
valuable or that you need to censor yourself. Learn from the
experience, and always try again. Don't give up.
Academic Dishonesty
While working on homework with one another is encouraged,
all write-ups of solutions must be
your own. You are expected to be able to explain any solution you
give me if asked. The Student Academic Dishonesty Policy and Procedures will
be followed should incidents of academic dishonesty occur.
Disability Accommodations
SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for
persons with documented physical, emotional or learning disabilities.
Students should consult with the Director in the Office of Disability
Services (Tabitha Buggie-Hunt, 105D Erwin, tbuggieh@geneseo.edu) and their
individual faculty regarding any needed accommodations as early as possible
in the semester.
Religious Holidays
It is my policy to give students who miss class because
of observance of religious holidays the opportunity to make up missed
work. You are responsible for notifying me no later than September 10
of plans to observe the holiday.
Schedule (subject to change)
Date
Topic
August 27 Introduction
29
1.1, 1.2.1
31
1.2.2
September 5 1.2.3-4
7
2.1.1-4
10
2.1.5-8
12
2.1.9-10 PS 1 (1.1-2.1.4) due
14
3.1.1-3.1.3
17
Q1 (1.1-2.1.4) 3.1.4-3.2.1
19
3.2.2, 4.1-2
21
4.3
24
4.4-4.5, 4.7.1
26
overrun PS2 (2.1.5-4.3) due
28
review
October 1 XM1 (1.1-4.3)
3
4.7.2-3, 4.10.1
5
4.10.2,4.10.4
10
4.10.5
12
15
4.11-4.11.2 PS3 (4.4-4.10) due
17
4.11.3-4
19
Q3 (4.4-4.10) 9.1
22
9.2-3
24
9.4
26
9.5, 5.1-2
29
5.3
31
5.4-5 PS4 (4.11,9.1-5) due
November 2 review
5
XM2 (4.4-4.11,9.1-5)
7
5.6
9
5.7-8
12
5.9,
9.6
14
9.7
16
9.8 PS5 (5.1-9) due
19
9.9
26 Q5
(5.1-9) / 7.1.1
28
7.1.2-7.1.3
30
7.2
December 3 overrun
5
overrun
7
review PS6 (9.6-9.9, 7.1-2) due
10
review
Tuesday, December 18 final exam (half 5, 9.6-9, 7; half 1-4,9.1-5) 8-11a
(maybe 8:30-11a? 8-10:30a? 8:30-11:30a?)