MATH 221, Section 1, FALL 2004
Linear Algebra and Differential Equations  
MWF 9:05 - 9:55, 111 Morrill
Greg Lawler, 567 Malott
Th 9:05-9:55, 103 Rockefeller
TA, Will Gryc

Office Hours:

Greg Lawler, 3:30 -- 4:45 Tuesday, 1:30 -- 2:30 Wednesday, and by appointment ---567 Malott
Will Gryc, 2:00 -- 4:00 Tuesdays, 4:30 -- 5:30 Wednesday --- 218 Malott

This is the third semester of the upper level calculus sequence. The course covers linear algebra, with applications to differential equations. The approach is more theoretical than in our other calculus sequences: we teach theorems as well as computational techniques. If you are not sure this is the right course for you, we will be glad to talk to you about it. One of the goals of the course is to provide an introduction to theorem-proving. By the end of the semester, you should be able to understand most of the proofs in the subject, and you should even be able to give someproofs on your own. Topics will include: vectors, matrices and linear equations, vector spaces and linear transformations, determinants, eigenvectors and diagonalization, orthogonality and differential equations.

Text

Otto Bretscher, Linear Algebra with Applications, third edition.

The appropriate reading for various sections of the book can be found here .

News

Here is some information about the upcoming prelimary exam on Tuesday, September 28.

Homework Assignments

Homework will be due every week in the Thursday meeting time. The assignments will be posted here .

LATE HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Students may work together on homework but must write up their work individually. The homework will be graded and it is the student's responsibility to make sure that his or her work is written clearly (this refers both to handwriting and style of prose).

The homework is the most important part of the course. No matter how well you think you understand the material presented in class, you won't really learn it until you do the problems. You are free to devise whatever strategy for learning the material suits you best. This may involve collaboration with other students. We believe, however, that most people will get the maximum benefit from the homework if they try hard to do all the problems themselves before consulting others. In any case, whatever you turn in should represent your own solution, expressed in your own words, even if this solution was arrived at with help from someone else. Remember, you are doing the homework in order to learn the material; don't try to defeat the purpose of it.

Preliminary and Final Exams

There will be two preliminary exams given at night on September 28 and October 28. There will also be a final exam. While the material for the final exam will cover the entire course, there will be a strong emphasis on the material covered after the second prelim. Solutions of the prelims can be found here

There will also be regular short quizzes, probably given in the Thursday section. These will emphasize definitions. More information later.

Grading (approximate)

Final exam 38%, Preliminary exams 25% each, Homework/Quizzes 12%

Last modified:31 October 2004