Course Outline for Math 124C

Course Objectives: To deeply understand the equation the Fundamental
Theorem of linear algebra , and the following picture:

Note: The study of linear algebra may bring about happiness.

Grading breakdown:

1. Assignments (40%)—All as signments will be of equal weight and will be 1
week take home affairs. The lowest assignment score will be dropped and the
average of the remainder taken (Note: the last assignment cannot be dropped
from the average). Expect about ten of these pleasurable experiences. Clarity
in writing and presentation will be taken into account in grading.

2. Mid term exams (35%)—Three 75 minutes tests distributed throughout the
course, all of equal weighting.

3. Final exam (24%)—Three hours of pure happiness with linear algebra.

4. Homework (0%)—Problems will be assigned from the textbook at the end of
most lectures. Doing these exercises will be most beneficial and will increase
happiness. Problems presenting difficulty will be discussed in the following class
as time permits, or in office hours.

5. General attendance (1%)—it is extremely desirable that students attend
class, and class presence will be taken into account if a grade is borderline.

6. Attendance of office hours (0%)—students are requested to attend at least
one session of office hours during the course (again, the b orderline grade issue
is to be kept in mind here).

Grades:
 

Schedule: The course will mainly cover chapters 1 through 6 of the textbook and
some of chapter 7. Some topics may be omitted, others added.
 

Final exam: 8:00 am to 11:00 am, Monday, May 4 in normal lecture room.

Topics to be covered:
 

• Everything about the Matrix Equation	• Eigenvalues and Eigenvector
• The Fundamental Theorem of Linear Algebra,	• Diagonalization
• Systems of Linear Equations,	• Linear Transformations,
• Geometric Interpretation Thereof,	• Inner (Dot) Products,
• Gauss- Jordan Elimination ,	• Cross Products,
• Matrix Operations ,	• Change of Basis ,
• Null Space, Column Space, Row Space,	• Gram-Schmidt Process,
• Least- Squares Approximations ,	• LU Factorization,
• Inverses,	• QR Factorization
• Determinants,	• Vector Spaces,
• Cramer’ s Rule ,	• Projections,
• Cofactors,	• Representations of Graphs and Networks ,
• Singularity,	• The Joys of Singular Value Decomposition.

Important dates:

1. Classes run from Monday, January 12 to Wednesday, April 29.

2. Add/Drop, Audit, Pass/No Pass deadline—Monday, January 26.

3. Last day to with draw —Friday, March 30.

4. Reading and exam period—Thursday, April 30th to Friday, May 8.

Do check your zoo account for updates regarding the course.

Academic assistance: Anyone who requires assistance in any way (as per the ACCESS
program or due to athletic endeavors), please see or contact me as soon as
possible.

Being good people: First, in class there will be no electronic gadgetry, no cell
phones, no beeping, no text messaging, etc. You really just need your brain, some
paper, and a writing implement here (okay, and Matlab—see below). Those who
beep in an annoying fashion will be fined one organic banana by the lecturer. Second,
I encourage you to email me questions, ideas, comments, etc., about the class but
request that you please do so in a respectful fashion. Finally, as in all UVM classes,

Late policy: Unless in the case of an emergency (a real one) or if an absence has
been predeclared and a make-up version sorted out, assignments that are not turned
in on time or tests that are not attended will be given 0%.

Computing: Students are encouraged to use Matlab to check their work. (Matlab
is short for Matrix Laboratory and is the natural choice for linear algebra). I will
talk about MatLab in class. Note that for any assignment problem, written details of
calculations will be required.