Linear Algebra - Math 338 (Section 9213):  Spring 2008 Syllabus



Prof. Jesenko Vukadinovic

Office:   1S-228   phone: (718) 982-3632
Email:  vukadino at mail.csi.cuny.edu
Website:   http://www.math.csi.cuny.edu/~vukadino

Course Time and Place:

Tuesdays:    6.30pm - 8.10pm   in 1S-217

Thursdays:   6.30pm - 8.10pm   in 1S-116


Textbook:  Bernard Kolman and David R. Hill, Introductory Linear Algebra: An Applied First Course Eighth Edition, 2005. ISBN 0131437402. Available at the University Bookstore or online: AddALL.

Material Covered:  This course is an introduction to linear algebra. The central part is the study of linear equations, matrices, real vector spaces, and linear transformations.

Homework:  The listed exercises from the textbook are strongly recommended as practice, but they will not be collected.  Several quizzes out of this homework will be conducted. Answers for almost all of these are in the back of the book. I highly recommend working jointly on homework problems with fellow students, but in the end you must hand in your own work.

WeBWorK:  WeBWorK is an online program that generates individualized problems, and provides immediate feedback. Incorrect answers may be corrected, so that I hope you will often submit perfect homework sets. These problems will be mostly computational exercises. This will count as part of your HW score.

MATLAB:  MATLAB is powerful computer algebra software designed to solve linear algebra problems. The CSI Math Department has computer labs with access to MATLAB, and our textbook has many homework problems designed for MATLAB. Using MATLAB will be required for this course. For an introduction to MATLAB, see Chapter 12 of our textbook.

Grading:  The course grade will be determined as follows: 20% Midterm Exam 1 + 20% Midterm Exam 2 + 30% Final Exam +30% WebWork and Quizzes.

Without exception, you must take the final exam at the time scheduled by the university.

Help:  My office hours are Tuesdays 2.30-4.10 and Thursdays 3.40-4.30.  

Optimal Method of Study:  (1.) Come to class.  (2.) Read the relevant sections after class.  (3.) Do the homework. Leave time to think--do not put homework off until it is due!  (4.) Compare your solutions with other students to improve what you hand in.   (5.) Come to office hours or the help room with any remaining questions.

Written work:  We write to communicate. Work must be neat and legible to receive consideration. You must explain your work to obtain full credit. For specific suggestions see A guide to writing in mathematics classes.

Goals:  Many problems in linear algebra are computational -- the first goal is to make calculations with accuracy, intelligence and flexibility. But linear algebra is also a course filled with new concepts and new vocabulary, often with a geometric flavor -- the second goal is to explain the basic concepts clearly, reason logically with them, and use them to solve extended problems.

Class Topic Read   Exercises
Jan 29
Linear systems
§1.1
1.1: 5,7,9,11,13,15,22,27,T4

Jan 31
Matrix multiplication §1.3 1.2: 1,5,7,9,T1,T5,T7, 1.3: 1,5,7,9,11,13,15,19,21,25,T1,T3,T4,T7,T10
Feb 05 Matrix operations §1.4 9,11,13,15,T6,T9,T23,T24,T27
Feb 07 Matrix transformations §1.5 1,5,9,15,19
Feb 14 Solving linear systems §1.6 3,5,8,9,13,19,23,27,31,47,T8,T11
Feb 19
Inverse matrix §1.7 3,5ab,11,13,15,18,25,T7,T9,T10
Feb 21 Determinants §3.1 3,5abv,9,15,17,22,23,T5,T9,T16
Feb 26 Cofactor expansion §3.2, 3.3 3.2: 1,5,9,11,15,19,23,T4,T5,T10,T11
Feb 28
Vectors §4.1, 4.2 4.1: 9,13,15,19,21,24,27,T5,T9
4.2: 1,4,11,13,17,21,23,26,27,T5,T13
Mar 04 Linear transformations §4.3 1,7,13,15,17,21,25,27,29,T5,T11
Mar 06 MIDTERM EXAM 1    
Mar 11
Vector spaces §6.1, 6.2 6.1: 1,3,4,9,13,15,20,T5
6.2: 3,7,9,17,19,20e,23,25,27,T3,T12
Mar 13 Linear independence §6.3 1ab,3ac,5,7,9,11bc,12ab,13ab,14,16,T2,T8,T11,T13
Mar 18
Basis, dimension §6.4 1,3ab,5bc,9,11,13,19,23,27,29,31,33,35,T3,T4,T8,T12,T15
Mar 20 Homogeneous systems §6.5 3,5,11,13,21,T3
Mar 25 Matrix rank §6.6 1,3,5,7,11,17,19,21,23,27,29,33,T7,T12
Mar 27 Change of basis §6.7 1,3,5,7,11,13,15,17,21,25,T4,T7c
Apr 01
Orthonormal bases §6.8 1,3,5,9,11,15,17,19,21,T6,T9
Apr 03 Orthogonal complements §6.9 1,3,7,9ab,11,13,T5
Apr 08
Linear transformations §10.1, 10.2 10.1/1,3,5,17,19,T5; 10.2/1,3,9,11,17,T2
Apr 10 Matrix of linear transformation §10.3, B2 1,3,13,15,17
Apr 15
MIDTERM EXAM 2    
Apr 17
Eigenvalues, eigenvectors §8.1 5,9,11,13,15,17cd,19,21,25,T6,T9,T11,T15
Apr 29
Diagonalization §8.2 1,3,5,9,13,15,19,23,25,29,39,41,46,T2,T6,T7
May 01 Symmetric matrices §8.3 1,2,5,9,17,T1,T6,T8
May 06
Dynamical systems §9.3 1,2,3,4,5
May 08
Review    
May 13 Review    
May ?? FINAL EXAM