E-mail: harryt@umd.edu
Course guide:
- Text: Sheldon Axler,
Linear Algebra Done Right: Fourth Edition, Springer-Verlag, 2024.
- Content:
- This is a course in linear algebra, with few
mathematical prerequisites (mainly a familiarity with abstract
mathematical reasoning). Our main goal is to study vector
spaces, linear transformations and their invariants, inner
product spaces and the spectral theorem, together with some
important applications. There will be many proofs done in class,
and you will also need to prove results on your own in the
homework and provide (simpler) proofs on exams. I plan to cover
most of the textbook, and include some additional topics, time
permitting.
- Homework:
- The best and only way to learn mathematics is to
do mathematics! Your weekly homework assignments are therefore
the most important part of this course. Homework will be
assigned on Thursday and is due in class on the Thursday of
the following week. I urge you to hand in all of your
assignments on time - however my policy is to allow up to TWO
late homework assignments per student, which should be turned in
at most two weeks after their due date. Any further late
assignments will not be graded. You may discuss the problems
with others if you wish, but whatever you turn in should be
written up on your own. The extra credit problems are optional
- they can improve your grade, but you do not need to solve
them to do well in the course. People looking for a challenge
are encouraged to attempt them!
Our homework grader is Maxis Govida, and his email is
maxis@umd.edu. Please contact him with any questions you may
have about the homework grading and solutions to the
problems. He will meet with students to answer such queries on
an individual basis.
- Exams:
- We will have three exams during the course, two
midterms and a final exam. The two midterms will be held in
class from 9:30 - 10:45, on Thursday, October 10 and
Thursday, November 14. The final exam has
been scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 10:30 - 12:30.
Make-up exams will only be given for compelling and
documented reasons.
- Grading Policy:
- The course grade will be determined by adding your
two midterm test scores (20%+20%) to your final exam score (30%)
and your homework total (30%). Participating in class and working
on extra credit problems is encouraged and will help to improve your
grade.
- READ THIS:
- University of
Maryland course related policies. This includes a discussion of
academic integrity, the honor pledge, and accommodations for students
with disabilities. If you have a documented disability and wish to
discuss academic accommodations with me, please contact me as soon
as possible.
- Electronic devices:
- No electronic devices are required for this course, and they will
not be allowed in class during exams.
- Office Hours:
- I will be available at these times
specifically to help you: Tuesdays from 11:00 - 12:00 in my office
(Kirwan Hall 4419) and Wednesdays from 10:00 - 11:00 (on Zoom).
Feel free to come by my office and talk at any time, either by
chance or by appointment.
- Resources:
- The testbank archive of past exams has examples of tests from
past years, and is a good source of problems. A complete
set of videos for Math 401, Applied Linear Algebra, is provided courtesy of
professor Jeffrey Adams. Although these are at a lower level than our
course, they are a useful supplement to it.
HOMEWORK
Assignment 1 (Due 9/5/24):
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Assignment 2 (Due 9/12/24):
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Assignment 3 (Due 9/19/24):
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Assignment 4 (Due 9/26/24):
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Assignment 5 (Due 10/3/24):
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Assignment 6 (Due 10/17/24):
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Assignment 7 (Due 10/24/24):
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Assignment 8 (Due 10/31/24):
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Assignment 9 (Due 11/7/24):
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Assignment 10 (Due 11/21/24):
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Assignment 11 (Due 12/5/24):
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