Syllabus Math 152 Fall 2009

This is a web enhanced course. Much of the material will be presented online. We are

very fortunate to have the videos from open course work at MIT available. These will

allow us to focus our inclass time on problem solving.

Goals: The instructor will

1. Solving Ax = b for square systems by elimination (pivots, multipliers, back substitution, invertibility of A, factorization into A = LU)

2. Complete solution to Ax = b (column space containing b, rank of A, nullspace of A and special solutions to Ax = 0 from row reduced R)

3. Basis and dimension (bases for the four fundamental subspaces)
4. Least squares solutions (closest line by understanding projections)
5. Orthogonalization by Gram-Schmidt (factorization into A = QR)
6. Properties of determinants (leading to the cofactor formula and the sum over all n! permutations, applications to inv(A) and volume)
7. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors (diagonalizing A, computing powers A^k and matrix exponentials to solve difference and differential equations)
8. Symmetric matrices and positive definite matrices (real eigenvalues and orthogonal eigenvectors, tests for x'Ax > 0, applications)
9. Linear transformations and change of basis (connected to the Singular Value Decomposition -- orthonormal bases that diagonalize A)
10. Applications of Linear Algebra

Objectives: Students will be able to

1. Solve Linear Systems Ax=b
2. Find a basis and dimension for vector spaces,in particular for the four fundamental subspaces
3. Convert a basis to an orthonormal basis using Gram-Schmidt
4. Calculate determinants
5. Find eigenvectors and eigenvalues for a matrix
6. Diagonalize a matrix
7. Apply linear algebra to graphs and networks

This course will cover most of Chapters 1-7 in Gilbert Strang's text, Introduction to Linear Algebra. At various times during the semester we will use Maple to expedite some on the more onerous calculations that we run across. Maple is available in the computer lab S321.

Meetings for this class will be done in three different ways. The first is the traditional classroom meeting. Second is synchronous. This will be by way of using Elluminate Live!. During this time we will all "gather " together online for class. This type of meeting is particularly useful when we are working with Maple. Elluminate Live! sessions require you to be logged on to your computer with internet access during the class period or during office hours.You also need to have Java enabled.We will be able to discuss problems, share computer applications and work problems just as in class. Although I will record the Elluminate sessions it is important for you to attend. Students can also request times to work together online using Elluminate Live!. All office hours will be held online using Elluminate Live! Third we have recorded sessions . These sessions are videos done by Dr. Strang at MIT. The links will be posted on Blackboard.Students can pause at any time during these recording and so they fit anyone's pace and they can be viewed at anytime.These recordings are QuickTime Movies. Software necessary for viewing is available at no cost here.

Grading: There will be homework sets due every other Tuesday. Doing homework is really important. You are encouraged to talk to other students about your assignments. You must write up your own solutions, however. Homework is worth 400 points. There will also be 4 exams. You will be allowed to drop one exam. They will be worth 200 points each. Grades are assigned by the following:

Course Schedule is posted on Blackboard.

Course Policies

Exams are to be taken closed book and without outside assistance. Exams will be made available designated dates from 800-2000. You will have one hour to complete the exam. If you have a computer problem you should contact you instructor immediately. You will be given a cell phone contact number for use during the exam.

Students are responsible for keeping track of due dates in the class. A comprehensive calendar is posted on Blackboard.

University Policies

Students are prohibited from reading newspapers or other material not provided by the professor during class. Use of cell phones is also prohibited during class time. Lectures may be tape- recorded with permission from the professor. Students may bring visitors or guests to class if permission is first granted from the professor. In-class activities will require students to work
independently and in small groups.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend class and should contact the instructor regarding any absences, especially when there are extended absences due to illness, death in the immediate family, or other situations. In an emergency, students may contact the Dean of Students. Any missed exams, and/or assignments remain the responsibility of the student. (See “Student Affairs” section of the California State University, Fresno General Catalog.) Each person in the class will pair up with a ‘study buddy.’ Your buddy is responsible for sharing information with you if you should miss a class (i.e., collecting class handouts, noting important dates or schedule changes, etc…). If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check on announcements made while you were away. If a student misses a class and still has questions about lecture material after debriefing with their study buddy, it is the student’s responsibility to visit the professor during posted office hours.

Cheating and Plagiarism: “Cheating is the actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for the purpose of improving one's grade or obtaining course credit; such acts also include assisting another student to do so. Typically, such acts occur in relation to examinations. However, it is the intent of this definition that the term 'cheating' not be limited to examination situations only, but that it include any and all actions by a student that are intended to gain an unearned academic advantage by fraudulent or deceptive means. Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating which consists of the misuse of the published and/or unpublished works of others by misrepresenting the material (i.e., their intellectual property) so used as one's own work.” Penalties for cheating and plagiarism range from a 0 or F on a particular assignment, through an F for the course, to expulsion from the university. For more information on the University's policy regarding cheating and plagiarism, refer to the Schedule of Courses (Legal Notices on Cheating and Plagiarism) or the University Catalog (Policies and Regulations)

Computers: “At California State University, Fresno, computers and communications links to remote resources are recognized as being integral to the education and research experience. Every student is required to have his/her own computer or have other personal access to a workstation (including a modem and a printer) with all the recommended software. The minimum and recommended standards for the workstations and software, which may vary by academic major, are updated periodically and are available from Information Technology Services (http://www/csufresno.edu/ITS/) or the University Bookstore. In the curriculum and class assignments, students are presumed to have 24-hour access to a computer workstation and the necessary communication links to the University's information resources.”

Disruptive Classroom Behavior: “The classroom is a special environment in which students and faculty come together to promote learning and growth. It is essential to this learning environment that respect for the rights of others seeking to learn, respect for the professionalism of the instructor, and the general goals of academic freedom are maintained. ... Differences of viewpoint or concerns should be expressed in terms which are supportive of the learning process, creating an environment in which students and faculty may learn to reason with clarity and compassion, to share of themselves without losing their identities, and to develop and understanding of the community in which they live . . . Student conduct which disrupts the learning process shall not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action and/or removal from class.”

Make-up Policy: Arrangements must be made PRIOR to the evaluation if for any reason you are unable to be present at the scheduled time. If you miss an exam due to an unexpected medical illness or emergency, you must email the professor before the scheduled exam time,and then provide (medical) documentation at or before the next class. If you do not email theprofessor before the exam time you will receive 0 points for the missed exam. All papers are to be handed in the day they are due. Papers will be accepted one day past the due date. However, these papers will be subject to an automatic deduction of 30%. Late papers beyond one day are not accepted. Makeup quizzes are not given.

Students with Disabilities: Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation. For more information, contact Services to Students with Disabilities in University Center Room 5 (278-2811).

Honor Code: “Members of the CSU Fresno academic community adhere to principles of academic integrity and mutual respect while engaged in university work and related activities.” You should:

a) understand or seek clarification about expectations for academic integrity in this course (including no cheating, plagiarism and inappropriate collaboration)

b) neither give nor receive unauthorized aid on examinations or other course work that is used by the instructor as the basis of grading.

c) take responsibility to monitor academic dishonesty in any form and to report it to the instructor or other appropriate official for action.

n.b. This syllabus subject to change.