Linear Algebra, MATH 320, CRN 37993, Spring 2019

Instructor: Christian Rosendal, room 416 SEO

Course webpage: http://homepages.math.uic.edu/~rosendal/WebpagesMathCourses/MATH320-2019.html

Required text: Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, Lawrence E. Spence: Linear Algebra, 4th Ed.

Course syllabus: We shall cover chapters 1-5 and parts of chapter 6.

Course hours and location: MWF, 11:00-11:50, Taft Hall 313.

Office hours: Wednesday and Friday 1:00-2:00 in my office SEO 416.

Reading: I will assign chapters from the book that I will try to cover every week. A good strategy is to read every section before it is covered it class, take notes and gain additional understanding during class, and the reread the section and do the assigned homework exercises at the end of the week. The material covered in exercises constitute an integral part of the exam syllabus and will greatly help you assimilate the theoretical material.

Homework: There will be approximately 11 homework sets due over the course of the semester. These should be handed in at the beginning of class on the due date. No late homework will be accepted and no extension given, so any homework handed in after the deadline will be credited for 0 points. When calculating the homework grade, the three lowest scores will be dropped. So, e.g., if you have missed one homework set, even for justified reasons, then this will be counted as your lowest score.

Midterms: There will be two midterms each taking place during regular class hours. These will take place on:
  • 1st midterm: Friday February 22nd
  • 2nd midterm: Friday April 5th
The midterms and final exam will consist of exercises resembling the homework exercises. So doing exercises equals good exam preparation.

To be excused from a midterm you will need to provide a valid excuse and a letter from the doctor to this effect. You will not have the chance to make up an exam, so if you are excused from a midterm your midterm grade will be the score on your other midterm. It is your responsibility to be in time for an exam, not your alarm clock's.

Final exam: Thursday May 9, 10:30-12:30 (tentatively).

Grade: Your grade will be a weighted average of your homework, midterm, and final grades calculated as follows:
  • Homeworks: 20 %
  • Midterms: 20 % each
  • Final: 40 %
Homework sets:
  • Due Jan. 25: Section 1.2, exercises 1, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 19.
  • Due Feb. 1: Section 1.3, exercises 2fh, 5, 10, 12, 18 and Section 1.4, exercises 1, 3ab, 5g, 12, 15.
  • Due Feb. 8: Section 1.5 exercises 3, 4, 7, 15 and Section 1.6 exercises 1, 2, 11, 14
  • Due Feb. 15: Section 2.1 exercises 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17 and Section 2.2 exercises 2, 10.
  • Due March 1: Section 2.3 exercises 2, 3, 12, 13 and Section 2.4 exercises 2, 4, 7, 14, 17.
  • Due March 8: Section 2.5 exercises 2, 3, 6, 10 and Section 3.1 exercises 2, 3, 6.
  • Due March 15: Section 3.1 exercises 8, 9 and Section 3.2 exercises 2, 5, 6, 7, 17.
  • Due March 22: Section 3.2 exercises 2, 3, 4, 6 and Section 3.4 exercises 2abg, 3.
  • Due April 12: Section 4.2 exercises 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22.
  • Due April 19: Section 4.3 exercises 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20.
  • Due April 26: Section 5.1 exercises 2abd, 3abd, 7, 8, 9, 17.
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