| Math 152, Spring 2009 Syllabus |
| Instructor: Dr. Katherine Kelm |
| Office: PB 346 |
| E-mail: Click here |
| Phone: 278-4633 |
| Course: Math 152 (linear algebra) |
| Class meets MWF 1:00-2:05pm in S2 308 |
| Text: Kolman and Hill, Elementary Linear Algebra, 9th Ed. (ISBN 013-229654-3) |
| Welcome to Math 152! Math 152 is a 4-unit course, covering vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices, determnants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and applications. The prerequisite for this course is Math 77. The course covers chapters 1 through 8 of the text. |
| Linear algebra is one of the oldest areas of mathematics. It begins by finding solutions to systems of linear equations. The methods used to find such solutions lead to the consideration of matrices and the algebra associated with them. We will see how matrices play a crucial role in the world of vector spaces, and we will recognize the connections between vector spaces, geometry, and other applications. |
| Linear algebra is a very interesting and very useful subject. This course, however, will be demanding. Although much of the course will be computational in nature, it will also require development of inductive and deductive reasoning, i.e. proof-writing. I will do my very best to teach it to you, but you must ultimately take the responsibility to stay caught up, seek extra help when you need it, and monitor your progress in the class. I am always here to help you do this. |
| I am very much looking forward to this course. I hope my enthusiasm rubs off on you! |
| Please see the following links for complete information: |
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| Learning Objectives |
Upon completion of this course, students should understand:
- The definition, properties and key examples of a vector space.
- Matrices and matrix algebra.
- The concept of determinant.
- The definitions and properties of eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
- The concept and properties of a linear transformation.
- The definition, properties, and key examples of an inner product space.
- Select applications of linear algebra.
- Basic elements of inductive and deductive reasoning.
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| Learning Outcomes |
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Solve systems of linear equations using matrices.
- Compute the determinant of an nxn matrix.
- Find the inverse of an invertible linear transformation.
- Find an orthonormal basis for a vector space.
- Compute eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
- State and prove basic facts in linear algebra.
- Read and write elementary mathematical proofs.
- Identify and generalize the essential features of a particular problem-solving method.
- Use the mathematical concepts developed in this course to solve certain applied problems.
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| [ Index | Skip to end ] |
| Course Outline |
| Chapter (Kolman/Hill) |
Description |
| 1 |
Linear Equations and Matrices:
1.1 (systems of linear equations)
1.2-1.5 (matrix operations)
1.6 (matrix transformations)
(We will skip sections 1.7 and 1.8) |
| 2 |
Solving Linear Systems:
2.1 (Echelon form of a matrix)
2.2 (Gaussian elimination)
2.3 (finding the inverse of a matrix)
2.4 (equivalent matrices)
(We will skip section 2.5) |
| 3 |
Determinants:
3.1-3.3 (determinants and their properties)
3.4, 3.5 (applications)
(We will skip section 3.6) |
| 4 |
Real Vector Spaces:
4.1-4.3 (vectors and vector spaces, subspaces)
4.4, 4.5 (span, linear independence)
4.6 (basis and dimension)
4.7 (homogeneous systems)
4.8 (coordinates and isomorphisms)
4.9 (rank of a matrix)
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| 5 |
Inner Product Spaces:
5.1, 5.2 (review of Math 77)
5.4 (properties of inner product spaces; Gram-Schmidt process)
(We will skip sections 5.3 and 5.6) |
| 6 |
Linear Transformations and Matrices:
6.1-6.3 (linear transformations)
6.4 (the set of linear transformations is itself a vector space)
6.5 (similarity)
(We will skip section 6.6) |
| 7 |
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors:
7.1 (definitions)
7.2, 7.3 (diagonalization) |
| 8 |
Applications of Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors:
8.7 (transformations of conic sections)
(We will skip the rest of the sections) |
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[ Index | Skip to end ] |
| Homework Policy*
Homework will consist of computational problems, to be completed online, and more complex problems--usually proofs--to be completed on paper.
WeBWorK problems are due on Wednesday nights at 11:30pm.
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What is WeBWorK? WeBWorK is a web-based homework system. A key educational benefit of this system is that if you get a wrong answer, you get immediate feedback while the problem is still fresh in your mind. You can then correct your mistakes, review the relevant material before attacking the problem again, or seek help. This means that if you begin the assignment promptly it is possible to get 100% on every homework!
If you get a wrong answer, you can (and should) redo the problem, and resubmit your answer. You can access each set as many times as you like (until the due date), and the number of attempts for each problem is usually unlimited, unless otherwise specified.
How to access the system. The login page is at http://webwork.csufresno.edu/webwork2/Math152-KKelm/. Your login name is your Fresno State e-mail username (e.g. if your e-mail address is abc@csufresno.edu, then your WeBWorK login name is abc), and your initial password is your Fresno State student ID number.
More about the system.
- You should log in as soon as possible, just to check that your login name and password work. You can (and probably should) change your password after you log in. You can also change your e-mail address if you like.
- You are very strongly recommended to start working on your assignments early. If you wait until the last night you will not only be stuck if you need help with the material, but the system gets slow if too many people are accessing the same course at the same time which often happens on the last night before the set is due.
- You can print out open sets (go to "homework sets"; choose a set, and click on "download hardcopy"), work on them wherever you like, and then log back in and submit your answers.
- As with any computer or calculator, you have to be careful with parentheses. E.g. if you want to enter
 , then you have to type (sin (2x) + 5)/(cos x - 3).
If you forget parentheses and enter sin 2x + 5/cos x - 3 it will be interpreted as  .
This is annoying at first, but it teaches you to use parentheses correctly!
- If you are unsure how to type a certain expression ("how do you type the square root of 3?"), there is a link to a list of functions WeBWorK understands on the sidebar of every assignment. For your convenience, clicking here will also take you to that list.
- You can view your scores by clicking on "grades".
- Almost every page in WeBWorK has an "email instructor" button. You can use this feature to e-mail me questions, explain how you did the problem, and ask what you did wrong.
- Please see the WeBWorK Frequently Asked Questions for more help.
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Please note that the WeBWorK system strictly enforces the deadlines. Solutions are available on the system 5 minutes after the above time, so no exceptions can be made for late assignments. I will drop your lowest two WeBWorK scores.
Paper problems are due on Fridays at 4:00pm. You may give Friday homework to me directly or place it in the slot outside my office labeled "Math 152." Please turn your paper in the direction indicated above the slot, so all papers will be facing the same way. Please write your full name, the due date, and Math 152 at the top of the first page. Paper homework will be accepted through Monday at 4:00pm for half credit. After that it will not be accepted. I will drop your lowest paper homework score. Be sure to read and understand the Homework Format Requirements and Guidelines. They will be enforced! Homework of more than one page must be stapled. This is not optional. Do not write teeny-tiny to get out of this, please!
There will sometimes be extra-challenging problems on the paper homework list, designated by *, which count for extra credit (bonus points!). |
| Warning: You are expected to budget at least 8-12 hours per week for homework and study outside of class. Do not attempt to concentrate all this work on Wednesday and Thursday nights! You will never finish assignments, let alone learn anything, if you do not start a few days early, while you have the chance to get help. |
[ Index | Skip to end ] |
| Quizzes* |
| Quizzes will be held in class periodically on Fridays. They will be given during the last 15-20 minutes minutes of class. If you miss a quiz, you get a 0. I will drop your lowest quiz score. The material for the quizzes will be announced in class several days before each quiz. Make sure to review the homework and come to office hours with any questions well before the quiz! |
[ Index | Skip to end ] |
| IMPORTANT. Reading comprehension is as important in mathematics as in any other subject. On any quiz or exam you should expect to see problems which are not exactly like the homework. |
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| Midterms* |
| The midterm exams will be Fridays, February 13, March 27 and May 8 (weeks 4, 10, and 15). I will announce in class which sections will be covered on each midterm. Makeups will be solely at my discretion. You are not eligible for makeup consideration for any reason unless you contact me PRIOR to the start time of the exam. There will be no exceptions to this policy. If you have missed an exam, or feel that you are likely to miss an exam, contact me immediately to discuss your plans for passing the course. |
[ Index | Skip to end ] |
| Final Exam*
The final exam is comprehensive. It will be held on Monday, May 18, 1:15 to 3:15, in our regular classroom. If you feel you have a conflict with the time given, contact me immediately. Please note that it is strictly against University policy for me to give final exams early for any reason. |
[ Index | Skip to end ] |
| Attendance |
| Missing class is bad. It is the single most preventable cause of bad grades! Please make the commitment to attend class every single day. You simply must show up every day, on time, to avoid missing something critical. |
| To help motivate you further, your attendance will frequently be monitored by roll-call and/or by exchange of paper assignments or exams. For instance, if I pass back a quiz and you are not there to pick yours up, I will know you are absent! There are no excuses accepted for non-attendance. Arriving late and/or leaving early is considered non-attendance. If you feel you will be missing a significant number of classes, please come see me to discuss your plans for passing the course. |
| There are no excuses accepted for non-attendance. If you feel you will be missing a significant number of classes, please come see me to discuss your plans for passing the course. |
| If you must miss class, get the notes from someone as soon as possible, go over them (preferably with the student who took the notes -- it will be valuable for him or her as well to talk through the material), and then come to office hours with any questions. I cannot repeat my lecture for students who skip class. |
| This class is heavily impacted (crowded!). Consequently, I will have little patience for students who are not ready, academically or psychologically, for the demands of the course. I will be checking prerequisites to make sure all enrolled students have passed Math 77 or the equivalent with a grade of C or better. Please see me if you have any questions. |
| If you are enrolled and decide not to take the class, you have until Tuesday, February 3 to drop the class without permission. Please drop as soon as you have made your decision in order to allow others to join the class. |
[ Index | Skip to end ] |
| Basis for course grade (What does this mean?) |
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| Homework |
19% |
I drop the lowest of these six grades,
for a total of 19 x 5 = 95% of your grade |
| Quizzes |
19% |
| Midterm 1 |
19% |
| Midterm 2 |
19% |
| Midterm 3 |
19% |
| Final exam |
19% |
| Effort/Attendance/Participation |
5% |
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| Grade breakdown** |
| 90-100% |
A |
| 80-89.9% |
B |
| 70-79.9% |
C |
| 60-69.9% |
D |
| 0-59.9% |
F |
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| ** Due to possible curving, your grade may end up higher, but not lower, than this chart indicates. |
[ Index | Skip to end ] |
Other Stuff
- Calculator Policy
You may use any calculator you wish for homework. However, I recommend that you practice mental math whenever possible, as calculators are generally not allowed on quizzes or exams. I do not anticipate making any exceptions. The reasons for this policy are as follows:
Calculators these days are very powerful machines which can actually facilitate learning in many instances. Many complicated computational procedures which had to be taught in previous generations are now obsolete, and classes can now concentrate on more refined and theoretical concepts. However,
- Calculators can easily tempt a student not to learn necessary mental math skills. In other words, calculators can rot your brain! Though I encourage you to experiment with a calculator outside of class and see what you can learn from it, I wish to test what is in your brain, not in your calculator. For this reason, as mentioned previously you should do as much of the homework as possible without one, to train yourself for exams.
- Good calculators can be expensive. I believe that it is unfair to allow students to use whatever calculator they can afford on exams. A student who has--or whose family has--more money should not have an advantage (or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it!) over a student with less money.
Therefore, to keep the exams equitable, and to avoid brain rot, I choose to disallow calculators of any kind.
- Classroom Behavior
I wish to maintain a positive, comfortable learning environment in our class. Please show respect for others by:
- Making sure that all cell phones and pagers are turned off for the duration of the class
- Not using tobacco products of any kind in class (this is California law and includes smokeless tobacco)
- Not speaking, whispering, or engaging in any other distracting behavior while someone is addressing the class.
Failure to adhere to these ground rules may result in your dismissal from the class.
- Academic Honesty
Cheating is quite prevalent at Fresno State, and thus the penalties for getting caught are severe. Don't do it. Notes of any kind are not permitted during quizzes or exams. I may ask for hats to be removed or for you to switch seats for extra security. Collaboration on homework assignments is allowed and encouraged; however, everyone must turn in his or her own homework, in his or her own words. The University policy on academic dishonesty will be followed in cases of cheating and plagiarism. This means, at minimum, a score of 0 on any assignment or exam in which cheating or plagiarism is suspected. Please don't do anything that looks even remotely like cheating. It's not worth it.
In addition, I will be checking your student ID in the last weeks of the term. I will examine your photo, write down the ID number on the back, and compare it with my records. This procedure is to help prevent students from hiring impostors to take classes for them. Your grade for this course will not be processed until I have verified your ID. The only exception will be if you earn an F for the course. Thank you for your cooperation.
- Students with Disabilities
The University policy on students with disabilities will be followed. If you have a disability documented with Services for Students with Disabilities which requires accommodation, please see me as soon as possible to make arrangements.
- Computer Use
The University policy on computer use will be followed. You are expected to have access to a computer with which to check email regularly, visit the course web site, download course materials, and complete WeBWorK assignments.
- Extra Help
Do not allow yourself to remain lost in the class. The night before the midterm is not the time to discover that you are in over your head! Whenever you need help, you must get it right away. Sources of help include the following:
- First and foremost, I am always here to help. If you cannot come to my office hours, make an appointment, or call or send email. I want you to succeed! Bringing your concerns to me can only raise your grade.
- Other students. Please try to get a phone number and/or email address from at least two other students in the class. Studying with your peers is one of the most effective learning tools and can be a great stress-buster, too. Even if you believe you work best alone, make sure you have someone to contact in case I am not available.
- Supplemental reading materials. These include other textbooks, the Student Solutions Manual (worked-out solutions to odd-numbered problems in the text) and various online sources. Please see me for more ideas, or consult a search engine such as Google.
- Bonus Points
There are three ways to get bonus points in this class:
- Do bonus questions on paper homework assignments (look for problems marked with an asterisk *).
- Participate in the annual Integration Bee, held in March or April. The Integration Bee is like a spelling bee, only the contestants evaluate integrals instead of spelling words. And like a spelling bee, one mistake and you're out! Prizes are given to the winners. Details will be announced in class as they become available.
- In an effort to get to know each of you personally, and to encourage you to find my office, I will give 5 points bonus homework credit to everyone who comes to one or more of my office hours the first two weeks of classes (January 21-30). You do not need to have questions or stay the full hour. Just come and introduce yourself!
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[ Index | Skip to end ] |
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Disclaimer: Although I have no plans to do so, all dates and policies are subject to change or exception according to announcements made in class. |
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| Last updated 1/18/2009 |
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