Linear Algebra S16

MAS 4105: Linear Algebra

University of Florida, Spring 2016

Little Hall 219, MTWF5 (11:45–12:35)

Instructor information:

Vince Vatter

Office: Little Hall 412
Office hours: Mondays and Fridays 8th period (3:00–3:50), and by appointment
Office phone: (352) 294-2338
Email: vatter@ufl.edu

Text:

Linear Algebra by Hefferon: free pdf, book webpage.
You can buy a physical copy of the this book at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
The Solution Guide is also online.

Course Content:

Linear equations, matrices, vector spaces, linear transformations, determinants, eigenvalues and inner-product spaces. This course includes both theory and computational skills. The student is expected to develop the ability to reason through, and coherently write, proofs of theorems.

For math majors, this course serves as a transition from a study of techniques into more conceptual math; for engineering and science majors, it serves also as a coherent foundation in linear algebra.

Expectations:

Each student is expected to invest a significant amount of work and thought outside the classroom for every hour of lecture. Moreover, work submitted for a grade in this course will be graded in a most rigorous fashion, and thusly, such work should have a great deal of thought and care put into it. Work which is sloppy or messy or that which is not written in a clear and coherent fashion will be marked down. This includes losing points for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and similar offenses. This course is a gateway course to many upper-division mathematics courses, including Number Theory, Combinatorics, Non-Euclidean Geometry, Abstract Algebra, and Real Analysis, and the high level of work that will be expected in this course is to ensure that students who pass this course have the best opportunity for success in future math courses.

Assignments & grading:

We will have weekly quizzes every Tuesday and two midterm exams (on Feb 2 and March 15) in addition to a comprehensive final exam (which will be given in two parts during class time).

Each of these three components (quizzes, midterms, final exam) counts for 1/3 of your final score.

The scores will be curved, but this curve will be no tougher than the 10-point scale: 90%–100% will be some form of A, 80–90% will be at least some form of B, etc.

If you have a disagreement with the grading of one of your solutions, I ask that you submit a written request for reconsideration within one month.

Grading will be in accord with the UF policy stated at https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx.

Miscellaneous:

Honor Code: UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” TheHonor Code specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor.

Class Attendance: Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found at: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities requesting accommodations should first register with the Disability Resource Center (352-392-8565, https://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/) by providing appropriate documentation. Once registered, students will receive an accommodation letter which must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodation. Students with disabilities should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

Online Evaluations: Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing online evaluations at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results/.

Complaints: The official UF policy for filing a complain about the course may be found here.

Contact information for the Counseling and Wellness Center: https://counseling.ufl.edu/, 392-1575; and the University Police Department: 392-1111 or 9-1-1 for emergencies.

U Matter, We Care: Your well-being is important to the University of Flo­­rida. The U Matter, We Care initiative is committed to creating a culture of care on our campus by encouraging members of our community to look out for one another and to reach out for help if a member of our community is in need. If you or a friend is in distress, please contact umatter@ufl.edu so that the U Matter, We Care Team can reach out to the student in distress. A nighttime and weekend crisis counselor is available by phone at 352-392-1575. The U Matter, We Care Team can help connect students to the many other helping resources available including, but not limited to, Victim Advocates, Housing staff, and the Counseling and Wellness Center. Please remember that asking for help is a sign of strength. In case of emergency, call 9-1-1.