Class Time: Wednesday 5:00p - 7:40p, Humanities 110.
Instructor: Dr. Corbett Redden. Corbett [dot] Redden [att] liu.edu. Office: Life Sciences 237. Phone 516-299-3487.
Office Hours: Monday 3:00p - 4:30p, Wednesday 12:30p - 2:00p, or by appointment.
Course webpage: http://myweb.liu.edu/~dredden/615f15/
Homework: http://myweb.liu.edu/~dredden/615f15/Homework.html
Homework Solutions:
Textbook: Linear Algebra by Jim Hefferon. This is an open-source textbook, and you can download it freely at the above link. A nicely bound paperback copy can be purchased from Amazon for only $20. Please do not use the departmental printers to print the entire book (approximately 500 pages).
Mathematica: We will make regular use of the computer algebra software Mathematica. Details will follow on how to install Mathematica, use it, and electronically turn in assignments.
Grading Scheme:
| Homework | 30% |
| Quizzes | 30% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
| Attendance/Participation | 10% |
Homework: I will assign weekly homework. Most of the problems will be ordinary problems that you work out on paper, but each week will also have an assignment to be completed with Mathematica. Only the Mathematica portion of the assignment will be turned in and graded. (Details on this to follow.) Late homework will not be accepted, but the lowest two homework scores will be dropped.
Quizzes: There will be a short quiz every week covering the material from the homework that is due. These will be graded and returned the following week. There will be no makeup quizzes, but the lowest two quiz scores will be dropped.
Final Exam: The final examination will be CUMULATIVE, and will occur during the usual class time on December 16. The final will comprise 30% of your course grade, though the instructor reserves the right to count the final as an even higher percentage for those students whose final exam grade is better than their test average.
Attendance/Participation: You are required to attend class every week and be an active participant. While I will not keep rigorous attendance records, excessive absences or lack of effort will result in a lower final grade.
Official course description from the Graduate Bulletin: This course includes the study of real vector spaces, linear dependence and independence and bases. Linear transformations, matrices, determinants, and linear equations are also included. (3 credits)
Help: You are welcome to see Prof. Redden in office hours, by appointment, or to ask short questions via email. You are also encouraged to work with others on homework. Explaining concepts and techniques to fellow classmates is an excellent way for you to better understand them yourself.
Important Dates:
| Sept 9 | First class |
| Sept 21 | Last day to add/drop or late register |
| Nov 6 | Last day to opt for P/F or withdraw |
| Nov 25-29 | No classes (Thanksgiving) |
| Dec 9 | Last class |
| Dec 16 | Final Exam |