Math 121A - Linear Algebra

Class is scheduled for MWF 2:00-2:50pm in MSTB 124.
Office Hours: MF 11-11:50am, Rowland Hall 410F.

Course Information
The syllabus for the course can be viewed here and contains a complete list of the topics covered during the quarter and the approximate time when they will be covered.
No question is a stupid question! You are welcome to ask questions in class, in discussion, and during office hours and you are required to ask one weekly question by email. The latter is called YAQ (You Ask a Question). Please send your questions to the instructor using YAQ as a subject line by 5pm of each Friday.

Assignments
It is highly recommended that you try and solve as many homework problems from the textbook as you need beyond the weekly assignment.

Weekly assignments [section (problems)]:
  Week 1 (due Tue, Oct 8): 1.1 (1a,2b,3c,4,6,7) 1.2 (1,3,4b,4c,5,7,8,10,11,13,15,18,20), 1.3 (1,2-6,11,18,19)
  Week 2 (due Tue, Oct 15): 1.4 (2a,3b,4c,8,12,16) 1.5 (1,2c,3,4,11,18) 1.6 (1,2a,4,9,14,15,23,26)
  Week 3 (due Tue, Oct 22): 2.1 (1,4,5,6,14,15,16,21,26,28,29,35), 2.2 (1,2a,2f,4,8,9,11,13,16)
  Week 4 (due Tue, Oct 29): 2.3 (1,2b,3a,8,11,12,16), review all sections up to 2.3
  Week 5 (due Tue, Nov 5): 2.4 (1,3,5,6,9,15,16,21)
  Week 6 (due Tue, Nov 12): 2.5 (1,2a,3c,5,8,9,10), 2.6 (1,2a,2d,3b,5,8,9,13)
  Week 7 (due Tue, Nov 19): 2.7 (1,2,3a,3c,7,8,13,15,19), 3.1 (1,2,3c,4,5,8,12)
  Week 8 (due Tue, Nov 26): 3.2 (1,2f,3,5e,6b,11,14,19), 3.3 (1,2d,3g,6,7e,10), 3.4 (1,2b,3,5,9)
  Week 9 (due Tue, Dec 1): 4.1 (1,10), 4.2 (2,3,26,28), 4.3 (9,10,13,15), 4.5 (2,3,4,5,6,15)

Grading and Exam Policy
Remember that you start earning your grade the first day of classes. The best way to obtain a satisfactory grade is simply to work regularly on the material, to be pro-active and engaged, and to ask questions as soon as they arise.

Your performance in the exams is more often than not a reflection of your work habits rather than of any great last minute effort. Better study habits also have the added benefit to increase the chances of the knowledge acquired in class becoming permanent and thus of making your life simpler in any subsequent math course you would encounter on your path.

The grade will be based on your performance in the final examination (40%), in the midterm (30%), homework (20%) as well as YAQ (10% each). Quizzes are mandatory and a prerequisite to obtain a passing grade but they will not factor into the computation of the grade.

Examinations are scheduled for:
- Midterm: Mon, October 28 in class
- Final: Fri, December 13, 1:30-3:30pm

The final grades will NOT be curved.

Cheating will be accepted under no circumstances and whoever is caught cheating will automatically receive an F in the course and her/his Dean will be notified. Only fully documented absences from exams justified in advance will be accepted. Unjustified no shows in an exam will be graded with an F.

A Few Tips
Solve Homework problems regularly. Read the material covered in immediately preceding classes before coming to class. Ask any questions you might have timely and do not wait until the last minute. Direct your questions to the course instructor and/or TA. Discuss the material and the homework problems with your peers. Use homework assignments and quizzes to test your understanding of the material and your ability to solve problems within a time constraint.

Textbook
S.H. Friedberg, A.J. Insel, L.E. Spence, Linear Algebra, Prentice Hall, fourth edition, 2003.