Math 121A (44840) - Spring 2016
Linear Algebra
Lecturer
Neil Donaldson
Office
RH 472
Office Hours
MW 12-1 + 2-3, or whenever you can find me
Email
ndonalds@math.uci.edu
Lecture Times
MWF 11-11:50am PSCB 140
Teaching Assistant
John Peca-Medlin
Discussion Times
Sec A10: MW 5-5:50pm HH 143
Sec A11: MW 4-4:50pm PSCB 220
Office Hours
RH 248-250/M 3-4 + F 1-3
Email
johnpeca@uci.edu
Course Text and Syllabus
We will cover most of chapters 1--5 of
Linear Algebra, by Friedberg, Insel + Spence, 4th Ed, Prentice Hall.
The book is not required --- homework questions will be typed and posted on the
homework page --- although the same book covers 121B, so it is recommended if you are taking that class.
Summary notes will be posted on the homework page. For a more detailed syllabus including sections covered and assessments click
here
Assessment
The final grade for the course will tentatively be computed as follows:
50% Final Exam, 25% Midterm, 15% Quizzes, 10% Homework
- Homework Questions
will be set most weeks, some of which will be collected the following week.
One homework will be dropped.
- Quizzes will be given most Wednesdays in the discussion classes. They will
assume knowledge up to and including the previous day's lecture. One quiz will be dropped.
- Midterm: during normal class time on Friday 29th April
- Final exam: in the usual classroom Tuesday 7th June, 1:30-3:30pm.
The exam will be comprehensive.
Add/Drop & Enrollment Questions
If you are on the waitlist, you should attend class normally and submit all homework/quizzes until the end of week 2.
Being on the waitlist does not exempt you from any assessments in the first two weeks.
In Mathematics classes, decisions pertaining to wait-lists, adds, drops, and pass/no-pass changes are
NOT made by Professors, and Professors have NO ability to change these policies. Refer to these
links for information on how to navigate the system:
http://math.uci.edu/undergrad-courses/course-registration-and-placement-information#Top
http://math.uci.edu/undergrad-courses/course-registration-and-placement-information##3
Grading FAQ
- The purpose of dropped quizzes and homework is to allow you a day off, for whatever reason,
be it fun or serious. For this reason, make-ups or extra drops will only be granted in the case
of serious illness or emergency necessitating your complete absence from class for an extended period.
- There will be no opportunity for extra credit.
- Any request to be treated differently to other students, except in the case of an emergency or
other well-documented reason, will be denied. This includes make-up quizzes/exams or any request to have
your final grade changed based on anything other than the incorrect recording of scores.
- No curving will be done, instead you will receive a letter-grade equivalent with your midterm score
to give you an indication of how you are doing. The overall letter-grade scale, incorporating homework
and quizzes will be determined at the end of term after the final exam is graded.
- The final exams will be available for you to consult, but not take away, next quarter.
Class policies
- No calculators or notes in the tests - make sure you can do the homework questions without them!
- Make sure you have a legible ID card for the tests. If your UCI ID has a smudged picture,
bring your driver's license. Your tests will not be graded without proof of who you are.
- Academic Honesty: Both the Math department and UCI take a dim view of dishonest behavior with regards
to assessments: e.g. submitting another's work as your own, copying during exams, bringing notes to exams,
etc. Harsh penalties are in place for students who are caught: depending on the severity of the offense
you may be given an F for the assessment, for the class as a whole, or even suspended from the University.
Think before you try anything, for the result of getting caught is always worse than the grade you'd get
by acting honestly.