Professor: Jeff
Johannes
Section 2
MWF 1:30-2:20p South 328
Office:
South 326A
Telephone: 5403 (245-5403)
Office Hours Open Classroom Time with Jeff: Monday
2:30 - 3:20p (South 328), Tuesday 10:30 - 11:20a (Fraser 116),
Wednesday 2:30 - 3:20p (South 328), Thursday 11:30a - 12:30p (South
328) and 8-9p (South 336).
Email Address: Johannes@Geneseo.edu
Web-page: http://www.geneseo.edu/~johannes
Course Materials
Primary: Activity
Workbook for Understanding Linear Algebra, by D. Austin
Support: Understanding
Linear Algebra, by D. Austin
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.
Most days we will be working on scheduled
activities from the workbook after a brief introduction to any
necessary content from the text. Almost all days have preview
activities. They are indicated by * in the schedule.
Expect that they are there and if you find a day without one, you
can celebrate. On other days, I do not expect you to read the
text or the activities before class. Previewing them before
class could help, but please do not complete the main activities
before class.
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
In-class exams (2)
15% each
Final exam
(1) 20%
Something Else
(1) 5%
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, 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. 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).
Something More
No later than 15 September, you and I will
mutually agree on something that you will include for the remaining
5% of your assessment. The goal is that it is somehow relevant
to our course and valuable to your learning. I'm open to good
ideas.
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 with one another is encouraged, all
write-ups of assignments must be your own. You are expected to be
able to explain any solution you give me if asked. Assignments and
exams will be done individually. The Student Academic Dishonesty
Policy and Procedures will be followed should incidents of academic
dishonesty occur. Any work written, developed, or created, in
whole or in part, by generative artificial intelligence (AI) is
considered plagiarism and will not be tolerated. While the
ever-changing developments with AI will find their place in our
workforces and personal lives, in the realm of education and
learning, this kind of technology does not help us achieve our
educational goals. The use of AI prevents the opportunity to learn
from our experiences and from each other, to play with our creative
freedoms, to problem-solve, and to contribute our ideas in authentic
ways. Geneseo is a place for learning, and this class is
specifically a space for learning how to advance our thinking and
professional practice. AI cannot do that learning for us.
This center is located in South Hall 332 and is
always open, staffed with tutors during the day and some evenings.
Hours for the center will be announced in class. The Math Learning
Center provides free tutoring on a walk-in basis.
Accessibility Accommodations
SUNY Geneseo is dedicated to providing an
equitable and inclusive educational experience for all students. The
Office of Accessibility (OAS) will coordinate reasonable
accommodations for persons with disabilities to ensure equal access
to academic programs, activities, and services at Geneseo.
Students with approved accommodations may submit a semester
request to
renew their academic accommodations. Please visit the OAS website
for information on the process for requesting
academic accommodations. Contact the OAS by email, phone, or in-person:
Office of Accessibility Services
Erwin Hall 22 585-245-5112
access@geneseo.edu.
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 by
September 8 of plans to observe a holiday.
Schedule (subject to change)
Date
Topic
August 25 Introduction
27
1.1
29
1.2*
September 3 1.3
5
1.4*
8
2.1*
10
2.2*
12
2.3* PS 1 (1.1-1.4, 2.1) due
15
2.4* (Something
More deadline)
17
Q1 (1.1-1.4, 2.1)
2.5*
19
2.6*
22
overrun / 3.1*
24
review PS2
(2.2-2.6) due
26
review
29
XM1 (1.1-2.6)
October 1 3.2*
3
6
3.3* (or push back
if overrun needed)
8
3.4*
10
3.5*
15
4.1* PS3
(3.1-2,4-5) due
17
4.2*
20
Q3 (3.1-2,4-5) 4.3*
22
4.4*
24
overrun or 4.5*
27
review PS4 (4.1-3) due
29
review
31
XM2 (3.1-2,4-5, 4.1-3)
November 3 6.1*
5
6.2*
7
6.3*
10
6.4*
12
overrun or 6.5
14
VS.1 PS6 (6.1-4) due
17
VS.2
19
Q6 (6.1-4) VS.3
21
VS.4
24
VS.5
December 1 overrun
3
overrun
5
review PSVS (VS.1-5) due
8
review
Wednesday, December 10 final exam (half 6 & VS, half 1-4) 12N -
2:30p