Math 2243, Fall 2009

Math 2243: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

COURSE SYLLABUS

Fall 2009

CLASS MEETINGS: 6:00-8:05 MW (VinH 6)

INSTRUCTOR: Alex Voronov

OFFICE: VinH 324

PHONE: (612) 624-0355

E-MAIL ADDRESS: voronov@umn.edu. You are welcome to use e-mail to send questions to me.

INTERNET: All class announcements will be posted on the class homepage http://www.math.umn.edu/~voronov/2243f9/index.html and NOT handed out in class.

OFFICE HOURS: MW 30 minutes before and just after class and by appointment.

TEXT: Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, 3rd edition, by Edwards and Penney.

OVERVIEW: The course is divided into two somewhat related parts. Linear algebra: matrices and matrix operations, Gaussian elimination, matrix inverses, determinants, vector spaces and subspaces, independence, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, diagonalization. ODE: Separable and first-order linear equations with applications, 2nd order linear equations with constant coefficients, Wronskian, method of undetermined coefficients, simple harmonic motion, 2x2 and 3x3 systems of linear ODE's with constant coefficients, solution by eigenvalue/eigenvectors. Audience: Part of the standard 2nd year calculus course for students outside of IT.

PREREQUISITES: Math 1272 or 1282 or 1372 or 1572.

COVERAGE: Sections 1.1 - 1.5; 2.1 - 2.5, skipping 2.2; 3.1 - 3.7, skipping 3.3; 4.1 - 4.3; 5.1 - 5.6; 6.1 - 6.2; 7.1 - 7.4; 10.1 - 10.3.

GETTING HELP:

Work in study groups and learn from each other. Room 150 Lind Hall is available for small groups of students to work together or individual study.
Free tutoring services will be offered by the SMART Learning Commons at several locations on the Twin Cities Campuses starting September 14. You can meet with a learning consultant, attend a Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) session, or participate in a workshop specific to Math 2243 or a particular exam. See the Math Tutoring page for more information.

Hire a tutor; get a list of tutors in VinH 115 or by e-mail request at ugrad@math.umn.edu. See more information at http://www.math.umn.edu/undergrad/tutoring_schedule/.
Attend my office hours (see above).
E-mail: Send questions or comments to me at voronov@umn.edu
Call me up at (612) 624-0355.

EXAMS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS: There will be homework, collected at each class meeting, three one-hour midterm exams during the first hour on the following Wednesday class meetings: September 30, November 4, and December 9, and a common Final on Monday, December 21, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in our regular classroom, VinH 6. All tests are closed-book, closed-notes, no "cheat sheets", no calculators.

MAKE-UP TESTS: There will be no make-up tests. If you miss an hour exam, your grade on it will be the prorated grade of your final exam.

HOMEWORK: Homework will be collected at each class meeting and a random selection of problems graded. Every once in a while we will be discussing it in class. Also note that selected homework problems (or similar) may be given on tests. This is another reason why you should do the homework before each class and, moreover, remember the ideas and techniques used in your solutions. Getting together with other students (that is, in study groups) is a very efficient way to do homework (and have fun and pizza).

GRADING POLICY: Grades will be assigned on curve, using the following weights:

Homework: 100 points total
Midterm exams: 100 points each
Final: 300 points

Class participation may also be taken into account in marginal cases.

CALCULATOR POLICY: No calculators will be allowed for any tests.

IMPORTANT DATES:

September 15 - Last day to register for a class without instructor approval and drop a course and receive a 100% refund

September 21 - Last day to drop a course without receiving a "W" on transcript and receive a 75% refund

September 30 - Midterm I

October 5 - Last day to drop a course and receive 25% refund

November 4 - Midterm II

November 26-29 - Thanksgiving Break

December 9 - Midterm III

December 16 - Last day of instruction

December 21 - Final examination