Math 342 Spring 2014

Math 342 Tentative Syllabus - Spring 2014

Instructor: Professor Marie A. Vitulli

Office: 3 Deady

E-Mail: vitulli@uoregon.edu

Lectures: MTWF 10:00 - 10:50 a.m. in 195 Anstett

Phone: (541)-346-5530

Office Hours: M 11:00 - 11:30, Tu 1:00-2:30, W 11:00 - 11:30, F 11:00 - 11:30

Textbook: Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 4th Edition, by David C. Lay (or the Custom Edition for the University of Oregon or the Custom Edition for SUNY Buffalo). I urge you to familiarize yourself with the website for the text. Beware that if you buy 3rd edition of the text, the exercises won't match up with the exercises found in the 4th edition, which is identical to the custom edition, except the custom edition is paperback rather than hardcover. You will be responsible for getting the correct version of all assigned problems.

Prerequisites/Course Content: The prerequisite for this course is Math 341 or the instructor's consent. Unless you have spoken with me privately, I will assume you have had a two-term sequence of calculus at the university level as well as Math 341 (Chapters 1 – 3 and Sections 4.1 – 4.5 in Lay). In Math 342 we study the following topics: coordinate systems, the dimension of an abstract vector space, change of basis and coordinates, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonality, least squares, Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization, and quadratic forms. We will also cover many applications of these topics.

Expectations: I expect that you will attend lectures and actively participate. I expect that you will read the text with a pencil and paper nearby and figure out the answers to the questions posed in the text as well as convince yourself of the veracity of the author's assertions. You must learn the definitions so well that you can repeat them virtually verbatim. Mathematics courses are like language courses: you must prepare between class meetings to avoid falling behind. I expect you to work on the homework problems as we cover the material in class.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the term the successful Math 342 student will be able to:

find the coordinates of a vector relative to a given basis;
find the change-of-coordinates matrix;
find the characteristic equation of a matrix;
change coordinates relative to one basis to coordinates relative to a second basis;
find the eigenvalues of a square matrix;
find the eigenvectors corresponding to an eigenvalue;
determine whether or not a matrix is diagonalizable and if so, diagonalize it;
find the matrix of a linear transformation relative to given bases for the domain and co-domain;
be able to use eigenvectors to understand a linear operator;
be able to use eigenvalues and eigenvectors to understand a discrete dynamical system;
be able to compute the inner product of 2 vectors and the length of a vector;
be able to orthogonally project one vector onto another vector or a subspace;
be able to find an orthogonal or orthonormal basis for a subspace of Rⁿ;
be able to orthogonally diagonalize a symmetric matrix;
be able to diagonalize a quadratic form;
be able to solve constrained optimization problems; and
be able to analyze a quadratic equation and classify its graph.

Homework assignments and exams will provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their success at achieving these learning outcomes.

Exams/Homework: I will assign homework problems each week; check the course website on Blackboard for updates. Late homework WILL NOT be accepted; I will drop the lowest homework score. It is essential that you do the homework; you may work with others but you must write up the solutions yourself. There will be 2 in-class exams (tentative dates below) and a final exam. Make-ups for the exams will be given only if you have my PRIOR CONSENT at least 48 hours in advance and the circumstances are extraordinary. On the exams many of the problems will be based on the homework problems. When writing explanations, make sure you write complete sentences that follow the usual rules of grammar. You should check the Blackboard web site for solutions to the homework and exams, exam reviews,and other updated course information.

Course Grade: I will tentatively determine your course grade by the following weights:

Homework: 20%

Exam 1: 25%

Exam 2: 25%

Final: 30%

Technology: I expect you to be able to carry out matrix calculations by hand so as to gain a solid understanding of what these calculations entail. You may use technology (graphing calculators, Mathematica, etc.) on your homework problems unless you are explicitly told not to. You will be allowed to use graphing calculators on your exams, but you will have to show all intermediate steps for credit. See manuals/guide books on websites below.

TI Website for Graphing Calculators

HP Website for Graphing Calculators

Important Dates

April 7th [M]	Last day to: drop a class without a mark of ‘W’ recorded
April 9th [W]	Last day to: add a class; change from audit to credit or credit to audit
April 23rd [W]	Math 342 Exam 1 at 10:00 a.m.
May 14th [W]	Math 342 Exam 2 at 10:00 a.m.
May 18th [Su]	Last day to: drop a class with a mark of ‘W’ recorded; change grade options; change variable credits
May 26th [M]	Memorial Day holiday; No classes
June 11th [W]	Math 342 Final Exam at 10:15 a.m.

Classroom Behavior:

Class starts promptly at 10:00 a.m. You should be in your seat and ready to begin class at this time. Class ends at 10:50 a.m. Packing up your things early is disruptive to your fellow students and to me.
If you enter the classroom late or need to leave early please sit near a door. Walking across the room during the lecture is disrespectful of your fellow students and me.
Attendance and classroom participation is a necessary part of this course. To participate you must attend class having prepared the materials for the day.
Please raise your hand to be recognized.
Please turn your cell phones off during class. If the phone rings it will be embarrassing for you and disturbing for everyone else in the class.
Remove your ear buds and close down your computers. I won’t tolerate web surfing or email activities during lecture.
Classroom discussion should be civilized and respectful to everyone and relevant to the topic we are discussing. If you miss a lecture please ask someone else in the class for lecture notes; we can’t use class time to revisit a topic that was covered in your absence.

Academic Dishonesty: The university has detailed guidelines covering various forms of academic dishonesty including plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, and academic misconduct. This information can be online at academic dishonesty. You may work with fellow students on your homework assignments but I expect that what you turn in or complete online is your own work in your own words. I expect that you won’t consult anyone else’s paper on exams. I will hold you responsible for academic dishonesty if you don’t follow both my and university guidelines.

Tentative Schedule (Watch for Updates)

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Friday
1. Mar 31 - Apr 4	4.4		4.5	4.6
2. April 7 - 11	4.7		4.8 HW #1 due	4.9
3. April 14 - 18	5.1		5.2 HW #2 due	5.3
4. April 21 - 25	5.4	Review HW #3 due	Exam 1	Go over Exam 1
5. Apr 28 - May 2	5.5		5.6 HW #4 due	5.7
6. May 5 - 9	6.1		6.2 HW #5 due	6.3
7. May 12 - 16	6.4	Review HW #6 due	Exam 2	6.5
8. May 19 - 23	6.6		7.1 HW #7 due	7.2
9. May 26 - 30	No class		7.3 HW #8 due	Conic Sections
10. June 2 - 6	Analyzing Quadratic Equations 1		Analyzing Quadratic Equations 2	Review HW #9 due
Finals Week June 9 - 13			Math 341 Final 10:15 a.m.