Course Information
Linear Algebra, Math 330--Section 1
Spring, 2001

Professor:  Dr. Cathy Kriloff          Office: Garrison 720               E-mail: krilcath@isu.edu
                                                          Office Phone: 282-3093        Web Page: www.isu.edu/~krilcath

Office Hours: M, W 9:30-10:30am, T 11:00am-12:00pm, Th 8:15-9:15am, by appointment or e-mail.

Objectives: The main goal of this course is for you to develop a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts and techniques in Linear Algebra, including both some theory and some computational methods involved in applications.  This will involve strengthening your ability to construct and write proofs and learning to utilize computer software.

Prerequisites: The official prerequisites for this course are Math 175 and Math 287, which are intended to ensure that you possess some familiarity with and ability to utilize abstract mathematical concepts and construct proofs.  You will further develop these abilities in this course.  Many of the topics are similar to those covered in Math 230, but material will be presented more quickly, abstractly, and rigorously.

Materials: The text is Linear Algebra, by Lawson, most of Chapters 1-4 and possibly selected parts of 5 and 6.  We will use a calculator or computer software package (e.g. Maple) as a tool to demonstrate ideas, experiment with examples, perform complicated calculations, and check work.

Format and Evaluation: Time in class will be spent exploring the material through lectures, discussions, and group and individual work.  Homework will consist of selected exercises from the last section of the chapters. Your lowest homework grade will be dropped.  You are strongly encouraged to read each section and to work or at least attempt the included exercises before we discuss it in class.

The two exam dates below are somewhat tentative, the final date is firm, so please mark it down now.
 

Overall percentages of 90%, 80%, 70%, 60% will guarantee the letter grades A, B, C, D.  Cutoffs for +/- will be determined at the end of the semester, but will be within 3 percentage points of these values.

Philosophy: I believe that all of you can succeed and that hard work counts for a great deal.  I expect you to attend each class session and to be responsible for material covered in any sessions you are forced to miss.  Studying together and discussing problems are encouraged, after you have worked hard yourself to understand the material or solve a problem, since this can be a very effective and rewarding way to learn mathematics.  However, you should write up homework on your own in order to guarantee your own understanding of the material.  Sharing or obtaining complete solutions is not allowed.

Accommodations: If you have a diagnosed disability or believe you have a disability that may require reasonable accommodation on the part of ISU, please call 282-3599 to make an appointment with Dian Jenkins, director of the ADA and Disabilities Resource Center.

Expectations: For some of you the following points may be obvious or second nature, but I believe it will be useful for all of us to be consciously aware of them.

In this class you will be expected to be largely responsible for your own learning.

You should strive to learn actively, both within and outside of class, by

• attending every class session;
• participating in group work and lectures during class;
• taking thorough notes;
• formulating questions;
• recording and asking questions on material and problems you do not understand;
• working at least 2-3 hours (on average) outside of class for every hour in class;
• learning from mistakes of your own and others (including me);
• being organized, clear, and accurate;
• developing efficient and effective study, work, and problem-solving skills;
• learning to read the textbook effectively (see below);
• reading the material for the first time before the class in which it will be covered;
• seeking out additional resources for help on material or additional skills;
• taking responsibility for learning material not explicitly covered in class, or which you did not understand or missed.

I plan to be prepared, patient, available, approachable, and fair.

I look forward to a successful and rewarding semester of learning together.

Suggestions: Reading a mathematics text effectively requires effort and practice.  You should:

• Read productively.  Have a pen or pencil and paper ready to use.  As you read, write down all questions you have, observations you make, and examples or computations you work out.  This should help you understand and retain the material better.  It may also help to make outlines, summaries, concept diagrams, or lists of main results in your own words.  Read when you are alert.
• Read before the class in which we discuss the topic.  Do not expect to understand everything you read the first time, but spend at least 1/2 hour with the material ahead of time in order to

(1) familiarize yourself with the basic ideas so you can participate and understand more in class,
(2) identify what you do not understand and formulate questions to ask in class or office hours.
• Re-read.  Almost everyone (including me) finds it necessary to read mathematics several times to fully understand it.  You will understand the material more deeply when you re-read it.
• Focus on definitions, conclusions, and methods. Mathematics is a language and it is absolutely necessary to understand the precise definitions of key terms.  The results and how they were obtained are also crucial.
• Reflect on what you read.  Consider connections of what you have read to previous material and to other courses.  Anticipate possible future material.
• Discuss what you read.  Talking to someone inside or outside the class about the material will strengthen your knowledge.