*** FALL 2016 ***Course Content ***FALL 2016
- Our goal is a careful study of basic linear algebra with an eye towards examining several applications of this important discipline. Of course, the study of applications will not be exhaustive, but hopefully will demonstrate as well the utility and importance of the underlying mathematics and its flexibility as a tool. We will discuss and emphasize the underlying mathematical principles and theorems. The basic topics are solving simultaneous linear systems (especially Gaussian elimination), matrix formulations, geometric interpretations, vector spaces, linear dependence and independence, dimension, linear transformations, orthogonality, determinants, and eigenvalues. The material is not very difficult, but we do cover a lot of material.
Basic Course Information
Math 4242 is a 4 credit course. Here is the official mathematics department description of this course:
MATH 4242 Applied Linear Algebra
Systems of linear equations, vector spaces, subspaces, bases, linear transformations, matrices, determinants, eigenvalues, canonical forms, quadratic forms, applications.
Lecture:
030 LEC , 12:20 P.M. - 1:10 P.M. , M,W,F Vincent Hall 211 , TCEASTBANK .
060 LEC , 2:30 P.M. - 3:20 P.M. , M,W,F Vincent Hall 211, TCEASTBANK,
Instructor: Professor S.Sperber.
Email: sperber@math.umn.edu
Office: 457 Vincent Hall
Phone: 612-625-4374
Office Hours: Tuesday 1-2PM; Thursday 2-3PM
Textbook: IMPORTANT: The selected text is ridiculously (outrageously) expensive. Please make every effort to avoid the cost of buying this text new. Other useful options: used texts are MUCH cheaper. Rental possibilities are available. Finally a PDF download seems to be available on the web.
Textbook: Gilbert Strang, Linear Algebra and its Applications, 4th edition, ISBN-13: 978-0030105678, ISBN-10: 0030105676
I believe the author has a series of video lectures which one can access from his webpage: http://www-math.mit.edu/~gs/
Organization of Course and Grading Policy
There will be two mid-semester in-class
exams of 50 minute duration. Exams will be on Wednesday, October 12 and on Wednesday, November 16.
There is also a (cumulative) two hour final examination
For section 030, the exam will be on Tuesday, December 20 at 8AM- 10AM,
For section 060, the exam will be on Monday, December 19 at 1:30-3:30PM
THE ROOM FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATION IS VINCENT HALL 211 (THE SAME AS CLASSROOM).
Homework will be collected weekly, every Wednesday and some, if not all, of
your work on each problem set will be graded.This grade will be a component of the 20% of the "homework and class participation" portion of your Final grade
The final grade will
be determined according to the following guide:
mid-semester exams 40%
final 40%
homework and class participation 20%
Sample Test