Spring 2011 Course Syllabus

Course: Mathematics 2101.003.
Course Title: Linear Algebra.
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM.
Place: Barton Hall 407.
Instructor: Mendoza, Gerardo A.
Instructor Office: Wachman Hall 618.
Instructor Email:
Instructor Phone: 1-5053.
Course Web Page: http://math.temple.edu/~gmendoza/
Office Hours: by appointment.
Prerequisites: Math 1042 (0086) with a grade of C or higher or transfer credit for Math 1042.
Textbook: Schaum's Outline of Linear Algebra, 4th Edition, by Seymour Lipschutz and Marc Lipson.
Course Goals: By the end of the semester you should be proficient in the theory and practice of solving systems of linear equations and understand concepts such as vector, vector space, matrices and operations on these, determinant, inversion of matrices. You will also have seen a number of applications.
Topics Covered: Topics include: Vectors, vector spaces, systems of linear equations, linear independence, matrices, matrix operations, inversion of matrices, dot and cross product, orthogonality, symmetry, quadratic forms, linear transformations, and eigenvectors and eigenvalues.
Course Grading: Your grade will be based on (weekly) homework (15%) , quizzes (15%) (just about every class), and two mid-term (20%) and a final (30%) exams.
Exam Dates: Midterms: February 24, March 31. Final: Thursday May 5, 10:30-12:30.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is required. Missing four classes without justification will result in an extremely bad final grade. There will be quizzes every class during the first 10 minutes: get in on time.
Be independent: You are expected to come prepared to class. This means you should study from your book not only material from previous lectures but also concepts that may be barely mentioned in class or that you should have learned in other courses.
Participation: Questions (in the classroom or outside) are of course allowed, in fact encouraged. If there is something you do not understand, most probably others are having the same problem. Asking the question helps you and everybody else.
Homework: I'll post assignments on my website (see address above). Homework will be due at the beginning of the class on the day indicated on the assignment.

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.

Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:

• The first day of classes is Tuesday, January 18.
• The last day to drop/add (tuition refund available) is Monday, January 31.
• Spring recess is the week of Sunday, March 6.
• The last day to withdraw (no refund) is Monday, March 28.
• The last day of classes is Monday, May 2.

During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.

The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.