Elementary Linear Algebra - Math 351 - Fall 2007

Lecturer:

Irina Mitrea, 225 Kerchof Hall, im3p(at)virginia(dot)edu, Phone: 982-2787.

General description:

Topics include: matrices, elementary row operations, inverses, vector spaces and bases, inner products and Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization, orthogonal matrices, linear transformations and change of basis, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and symmetric matrices. Emphasis will be placed upon understanding and constructing mathematical proofs.

Textbook:

Otto Bretscher, Linear Algebra with Applications, third edition.

Course web page:

http://people.virginia.edu/~im3p/mathpage351.html

Examinations:

Prelim 1: Friday, September 21st, 11:00 - 11:50 am.
Prelim 2: Monday, October 22nd, 11:00 - 11:50 am.
Prelim 3: Monday, November 19th, 11:00 - 11:50 am.
Final Exam: Tuesday, December 18th, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon.

Notes, textbooks and calculators are not allowed during prelims and the final examination.

Lectures:

Section 1, MWF 11:00 - 11:50 a.m., CHM 303

Office Hours:

Irina Mitrea, 225 Kerchof Hall, MW 3:00pm - 4:00pm (or by appointment).

Grading:

Prelims count 20% each, the final 20%, and the remaining 20% is apportioned among homework, quizzes and class participation. 5% bonus points go towards outside class mathematical activities (e.g., UVa Undergraduate Mathematics Lecture Series, Mathematical Contest in Modeling Competition, Math Club participation).

A: 90-100

B: 80-89

C: 70-79

D: 60-69

F: <60

Tentative Course Outline     and      Homework assignments

Quizzes:

There will be a short quiz every Friday, unless otherwise announced. It will be returned to you on Monday.

Homework:

To be handed in during lecture meetings on the dates indicated in the homework outline. Do all problems assigned. These will be graded and returned to you the next week. Please be sure that your work is legible.

No late homework will be accepted. You may work cooperatively on assignments provided

You write up the solution yourself.
You put a note on your homework indicating the names of anyone you worked with.

Incomplete :

An incomplete will be given only in those rare circumstances where a student has completed all but a small portion of the course with a grade C or better and a severe, unexpected event prevents him/her from completing the course. In particular, if you get behind in the course you cannot ``bail out" by taking an incomplete.

Attendance and absences :

You are responsible for the material covered in class, whether you attend or not. You are also responsible for the announcements made during class; these may include changes in the syllabus.

Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a University. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. When in doubt about plagiarism or collaboration, consult the course instructor. The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences that range from probation to expulsion.

If you need accommodations because of a disability , if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform me immediately. Please see me after class, or at my office.

Words of advice: I encourage you to ask questions about the HW. Keep up with the latest materials covered; experience shows that, otherwise, you are likely to get poor grades on the exams. If you miss a class, make sure you get the notes from someone else who attended it. The professor will not assist any absentee to find out what happened in his/her absence. Hard work and regular attendance will get you through this course.