Math 2243, Spring 2009

Math 2243: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations, Spring 2009

COURSE SYLLABUS

CLASS MEETINGS: 6:00-8:05 TTh (VinH 20)

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/2243s9/index.html and NOT handed out in class.

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

TEXT: Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, 2nd 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
Sections 2.1 - 2.5, skipping 2.2
Sections 3.1 - 3.7, skipping 3.3
Sections 4.1 - 4.3
Sections 5.1 - 5.6
Sections 6.1 - 6.2
Sections 7.1 - 7.4
Sections 10.1 - 10.3

GETTING HELP:

Free tutoring services will be offered in Lind Hall 150 from January 26 through May 8. Walk-in hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm. Undergraduate tutors will also be available during the evening 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Sundays-Thursdays at selected dormitories. The schedule of which dorms will have evening tutoring will be posted and available in 150 Lind Hall each week. 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 class meetings:

February 10, March 26, and April 30,

and a common Final on Thursday, May 14, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in our regular classroom, VinH 20. 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. We will also spend a good deal of time discussing it in class. Also note that selected homework problems (or similar) may be given on tests. This is why it is crucial for you to 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:

January 27 - Last day to drop a course and receive a 100% refund

February 2 - Last day to drop a course without receiving a "W" on transcript

February 16 - Last day to drop a course and receive 25% refund

March 16-20 - Spring break

May 8 - Last day of instruction

May 14 - Final examination