Prerequisites:  MAT 301 or graduate standing.

Course Outline:  Vectors and linear systems can be use to descibe numerous practical problems.  Linear algebra is often used to describe such problems and the tools of linear algebra are used to solve them.  During this semester, the student will learn, using proofs and examples, techniques for describing and solving various linear problems.
 

(From the college catalog:  An introductory course in linear algebra.  Subjects treated are vectors, vector spaces, matrices and determinants, systems of linear equations, linear transformations in a vector space, and systems of linear differential equations.)

Goals:
Investigate the following as time permits:

• Vectors in 2-space and 3-space and vector spaces of Matrices
• Systems of Linear Equations and Gaussian Elimination
• Linear Independence and Dimension
• Linear Transformations
• Orthogonality and the Gram-Schmidt process
• Determinants
• Eigenvalues and eigenvectors and diagonalization

Meetings: The format of class meetings will consist of lectures by the instructor and presentations by the students. Student participation will be encouraged via classroom discussions as well as problem sessions where the student will present their work.

This class meets as scheduled. You are expected to be in class on time. University policy states that a student cannot miss more than 25% of the class meetings and receive credit for the course. Further, attendance will be necessary in order to understand the material and make a good grade. The student is responsible for work and material missed when absent. Cheating in any way will be properly rewarded in accordance with University policy as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin, page 46.

Grading: There will be at least two examinations during the semester plus a comprehensive final exam. Also, homework (perhaps online) and writing project(s) will be assigned and graded. Graduate students will be graded separately and will be required to prepare more extensive papers and other possible assignments.. An average of this written work will count as one exam grade. These exam grades will be averaged (with the final counting double) to determine the final grade. The Grading scale is

A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=65-69
F=0-64