FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Henry Eldridge Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Course Syllabus     Fall 2001

I. LOCATOR INFORMATION:  
     
Course Offered: Fall Semester Yearly  
Year: 2001
Course Number and Name Math 251 Linear Algebra
Semester Hours of Credit: 3  
     
Time Class Meets: 2:00 - 2:50 a.m.  
Days Class Meets: Monday, Wednesday and Friday  
Where Class Meets: SBE / 213 ( Bldg. / Room )
     
Instructor's Name: Dr. Gary Kerbaugh  
Office Location: SBE 313  
Office Telephone: 672-1666  
     
Office Hours: MWF 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.  
  MWF 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.  
  TTh 2:00 - 2:30 p.m.  
  TTh 9:30 - 9:30 a.m.  
  Other Office Hours by Appointment  
     
Final Exam: December 2001  
     

 

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Topics to be covered are systems of linear equations and matrices, determinants, vectors and vector spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

 

Prerequisite: Math 142

 

III. TEXTBOOK

Anton, Howard, Elementary Linear Algebra, John Wiley & Sons, 6th ed., 1984

IV. BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES

The objectives and competencies proposed for this course will be demonstrated as students work with the following:

Systems of Linear Equations.

Gaussian Elimination.

Homogeneous Systems of Linear Equations.

Matrices and Matrix Operations.

Inevitability.

Determinant Function.

Determinant by Row Reduction.

Cramer's Rule.

Vectors and Vector Operations in 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional Space.

Norm of a Vector.

Dot Product and Projections.

Cross Product.

Lines and Planes in 3-Dimensional Space.

Euclidean N-Space.

General Vector Spaces.

Subspaces.

Linear Independence.

Basis and Dimension

Row and Column Spaces of a Matrix, Rank.

Linear Transformations

Properties of Linear Transformations; Kernal and Range.

Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors.

Diagonalization.

V. EVALUATION CRITERIA/GRADING SCALE

There will be four tests and a comprehensive final exam. The grading scale for determining the course grade and the weights assigned to tests, final examination, and homework are given below. The in class tests and final exam will be graded on a 100 point scale. Homework will be collected randomly at a rate averaging about once a week and given a grade of either pass or fail. The homework score will depend on the percentage of passing grades assigned for collected assignments. Late homeworks will not be accepted and the final exam grade will be used as the grade for all tests that are missed. Make up tests will not be given. The lowest score for an in class test will be dropped and the class test average will be computed as in the example below. The percentage of passing homework grades will be multiplied by four, rounded, and the result added to the test average.

Example:

To see how your grade will be calculated, suppose your test scores are 81, 84, 75, and 90, your final exam score is 88 and you received a passing grade on 50% of the homework collected. Since the lowest test grade is dropped (see item 1 under COURSE REQUIREMENTS), your grade would be calculated as follows:

0.20 * [ (81 + 85 + 84 + 90) ] + 0.20 * 88 = 85.6

85.6 + .50*4 = 85.6 + 2 = 87.6 = 88

Since 88 is between 80 and 89 you would receive a grade of B.

Weights Assigned to graded materials:

In Class Tests 20% Each
Comprehensive Final Examination 20%
Homework 4% Extra Credit

Grading Scale:

A 92-100% Assignments 10%
B 83-91% Tests 30%
C 73-82% Final Exam 30%
D 64-72%  
F Below 63%  

 

VI. READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Read each section prior to the presentation of the topic in class.

 

VII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Conduct of Course/Classroom Decorum

1. Students are responsible for availing themselves of all class meetings and individual help from the instructor.
   
2. Students are responsible for maintaining a notebook of problems selected by the instructor. Students are encouraged to include as many additional problems as is possible
   
3. All tests will be announced prior to their administration. Since the lowest test will be dropped no make-up test will be given. There will be a test given at the end of each chapter, except possibly for chapter 6, and there will be a comprehensive final examination given.
   
4. Students are expected to enter the classroom on time and remain until the class ends. Late arrivals and early departures will be noted in the record book. The class attendance policy set forth in the 1996-1998 FSU Catalogue will be strictly adhered to.
   
5. Students must refrain from smoking, eating, and drinking in the classroom. The rights of others must be respected at all times.
   
6. Students are encouraged to ask questions of the instructor in class and to respond to those posed by the instructor. They should not discourage others from asking or answering questions. Other students often have the same questions on their minds, but are hesitant to ask.
   
7. Students are expected to complete all class assignments and to spend adequate time on their class work and to read each topic prior to class discussion to insure that the course objectives are met. Two hours of home study is expected for each hour of class.
   
8. Talking in class between students is strictly unacceptable. Discussions should be directed to the instructor.
   
9. Extra recitation periods and/or computer lab attendance are mandatory for students whose grades fall below C. They must meet the instructor to arrange for extra activities.
   
10. Dishonesty on graded assignments will not be tolerated. Students must neither give nor receive help on any work to be graded. The University policy on cheating will be applied to any violations. The minimum penalty will be a grade of zero on the assignment.

 

VIII. REFERENCES

Murtha, James A., Linear Algebra and Geometry, Holt, Rinhart, Winston

Thompson, Robert C., Introduction to Linear Algebra, Scott Foresman

Noble, Ben, Applied Linear Algebra, Prentice-Hall

Bronson, Richard, Matrix Methods, Academic Press

Campbell, Hugh, Introduction to Matrices, Vectors and Linear Programming, Prentice-Hall

IX. COURSE TOPICS

MO DA LECTURE ASSIGNMENT
Aug. 22 Intro. to Systems of Linear Equations p.
Aug. 24 Gaussian Elimination p.
Aug. 27 Gaussian Elimination p.
Aug. 29 Homogeneous Systems of Linear Equations p.
Aug. 31 Matrices and Matrix Operations p.
Sept. 3 LABOR DAY (HOLIDAY) p.
Sept. 5 Matrices and Matrix Operations p.
Sept. 7 Rules of Matrix Arithmetic p.
Sept. 10 Rules of Matrix Arithmetic p.
Sept. 12 Elementary Matrices and a Method of Finding the Inverse p.
Sept. 14 Elementary Matrices and a Method of Finding the Inverse p.
Sept. 17 Further Results on Systems of Equations and Invertibilty p.
Sept. 19 Further Results on Systems of Equations and Invertibilty p.
Sept. 21 TEST #1 p.
Sept. 24 The Determinent Function p.
Sept 26 The Determinent Function p.
Sept 28 Evaluating Determinents by Row Reduction p.
Oct. 1 Evaluating Determinents by Row Reduction p.
Oct. 3 Properties of the Determinent Function p.
Oct. 5 Fall Break

p.

Oct. 8 Properties of the Determinent Function p.
Oct. 10 Cofactor Expansion and Cramer's Rule p.
Oct. 12 TEST #2 p.
Oct. 15 Introduction to Vectors (Geometric) p.
Oct. 17 Norm of a Vector and Vector Arithmetic p.
Oct. 19 Norm of a Vector and Vector Arithmetic p.
Oct. 22 Dot Product and Projections p.
Oct. 24 Cross Product p.
Oct. 26 Lines and Planes in 3-Dimensional Space p.
Oct. 29 Lines and Planes in 3-Dimensional Space p.
Oct. 31 TEST #3 p.
Nov. 2 Euclidean N-Space p.
Nov. 5 Euclidean N-Space p.
Nov. 7 General Vector Spaces p.
Nov. 9 General Vector Spaces p.
Nov. 12 Suspaces p.
Nov. 14 Linear Independence p.
Nov. 16 Basis and Dimension p.
Nov. 19 Basis and Dimension p.
Nov. 21 Row and Column Spaces of a Matrix and Rank p.
Nov. 23 Application to Finding Spaces p.
Nov. 26 TEST #4 p.
Nov. 28 Introduction to Linear Transformations p.
Nov. 30 Properties of Linear Transformations p.
Dec. 3 Kernal and Range p.
Dec. 5 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors p.
Dec. 7 Diagonalization p.
Dec. 10 Orthogonal Diagonalization and Symmetric Matrices p.
Dec. 12 TEST #4 p.
Dec. 14 Review p.

* This schedule is subject to change for the optimum benefit of the class as a whole. Therefore, it is important to stay alert and attend class regularly