2022 Fall Course Syllabus - Mathematics 2101.003

Course: Mathematics 2101.003.

Course Title: Linear Algebra.

Credits: 3 credits.

How this course will be taught: Classroom, in-person.

Time: TR 11:00-12:20.

Place: Wachman 406.

Instructor: Jaclyn Lang.

Instructor Office: Wachman 606.

Instructor Email: jaclyn.lang@temple.edu

Instructor Phone: 1-7844.

Course Web Page: Canvas webpage

Office Hours: Mondays, 2:30-3:30pm and Thursdays 10-11am. Office hours by appointment are also possible, arranged one day in advance.

Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C in (MATH 1042, MATH 1942, MATH 1951, 'Y' in MA07, 'Y' in MATW, 'Y' in CRMA09, or 'Y' in CRMA11).

Course Materials: Matrix Theory and Linear Algebra, By Peter Selinger. Freely downloadable from https://www.mathstat.dal.ca/~selinger/linear-algebra/downloads/LinearAlgebra.pdf.

Course Goals: Acquire fluency in the language and methods of linear algebra. Specifically, students will learn to solve systems of linear equations, do matrix algebra, prove statements about vector and inner product spaces, and be able to compute eigenvalues and eigenvectors and use them in applications.

Topics Covered: Linear systems, matrix methods, matrix algebra, vector spaces, inner products and orthogonality, determinant, linear forms, eigenvectors and eigenvalues.

Course Grading: Two midterm exams (45%=20%+25%), mini project (10%), weekly homework (15%), final exam (30%).

Exam Dates: Midterm exams: September 22 (Chapters 1,2,4), October 27 (Chapters 5,6,7), in class. Final exam: December 13 10:30am-12:30pm (cumulative); All exams in Wachman 406.

Attendance Policy: You are expected to attend class unless you are ill or have extenuating personal circumstances. I will track the attendance for each class. If you cannot make a class, then please let me know beforehand.

Attendance and Your Health: To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to your instructors' requirements. However, if you feel unwell or if you are under quarantine or in isolation because you have been exposed to the virus or tested positive for it, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. Students have the responsibility to contact their instructors to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as they are able to do so and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion when illness delays their completion.

Homework: Homework will be collected at the beginning of every Tuesday lecture. Late work is not accepted unless you have extenuating personal circumstances and you have made arrangements with me before hand. It is very important that you give the assigned problems your best effort--this is by far the best way to learn the material. I strongly encourage you to discuss the assignments with each other, but I expect everybody to write up their own solutions. you will not learn abstract algebra by relying on internet searches. Please write your solutions legibly and leave plenty of space for comments. The audience for your solutions is a classmate who failed to do this problem. You should write in complete sentences, define all terms not used in the problem, and avoid all abbreviations. Your solutions should be polished; please do not hand in scratch work.

Homework grading: I choose a subset of the homework problems to read and mark carefully. The rest of the homework grade is for completeness. If you lose points on the marked problems, you may submit a rewrite of the relevant problems up to three weeks after the original homework was due. (All rewrites must be completed by the last day of class (December 5).) Your rewrite grade will supersede the original grade. Feel free to come to my office hours to discuss a problem before attempting a rewrite. Your lowest homework score will be dropped when computing your final grade.

Canvas: My notes for each class, homework assignments, and other materials will all be posted on Canvas.

Mini project: The mini project will be described in more detail on Canvas and during class. It is due on the last day of classes (December 5).

MCC: Tutoring is available at the Math Consulting Center (MCC). See the canvas page (or https://www.math.temple.edu/ugrad/tutoring/MCC.html) for the exact times and locations. Note that students in coordinated courses (i.e. not linear algebra) have priority at the MCC, but the tutors listed in on the documents in Canvas can help with linear algebra if they are not otherwise occupied.

Disability Statement: Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

Academic Freedom: 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 (opens in new tab/window).

Add/Drop Policy: Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.

During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Incomplete Policy: The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Student Support Services: The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
    The Math Consulting Center
    Student Success Center
    University Libraries
    Undergraduate Research Support
    Career Center
    Tuttleman Counseling Services
    Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.