Instructor: Marc Rieffel

Lectures: MWF 9:00-10:00am, Room 71 Evans

Course Control Number: 54581

Office: 811 Evans

Office Hours: M 10-10:50. 1:15-2; W 8:15-8:50; F 10-10:50

Prerequisites: Math 54 or equivalent preparation in linear algebra at the lower division level.

Required Text: Friedberg, Insel, and Spence: Linear Algebra, 4th ed.

Syllabus: Linear algebra is a beautiful subject that is very widely used in the technology that our society uses. The main topics that we will cover are: Vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices, determinants, diagonalization, inner product spaces, canonical forms. These are the topics for the regular course. As an honors course, we will try to develop a deeper understanding of these topic than is developed in the regular course. So at some points the lectures may go slightly beyond what is in the textbook. In my lectures I will try to give well-motivated careful presentations of the material.

Grading: The final examination, on Friday December 18, 8-11 AM, will count for 50% of the course grade. There will be no early or make-up final examination. There will be two midterm examinations, which will each count for 20% of the course grade. Make-up midterm exams will not be given; instead, if you tell me ahead of time that you must miss a midterm exam, then the final exam and the other midterm exam will count more to make up for it. If you miss a midterm exam but do not tell me ahead of time, then you will need to bring me a doctor's note or equivalent in order to have the final exam and the other midterm exam count more to make up for it. If you miss both midterm exams the circumstances will need to be truly extraordinary to avoid a score of 0 on at least one of them. Homework will count for 10% of the course grade.

Homework: Homework will be assigned at nearly every class meeting, and be due the following class meeting. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss the homework and the course content with each other, but each student should write up their own solutions, reflecting their own understanding, to turn in.

Comments: Students who need special accomodation for examinations should bring me the appropriate paperwork, and must tell me at least a week in advance what specific accomodation they need, so that I will have enough time to arrange it.

The above procedures are subject to change.

This page was last updated on 08/26/2009