Math 2300 - Elementary Linear Algebra

Section 105, Control number 40971
Fall Semester 2008
Department of Mathematics
Western Michigan University

Updated September 3, 2008.

Time and location:  Class meets 9 - 9:50 a.m., MTRF, in 3309 Rood Hall.  Final exam is Monday, Dec. 8, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Instructor:  Jay A. Wood, 6617 Everett Tower, 387-4812, email: jay(dot)wood(at)wmich(dot)edu .

Office hours:  2 - 3 p.m., TR, or by appointment.

Course description (from the undergraduate catalog):  Vectors and geometry in two and three dimensions, systems of linear equations, matrix algebra, linear transformations in R2 and R3, generalizations to the vector spaces Rn, inner products, determinants. Some emphasis on proofs.

Prerequisites & Corequisites: Prerequisite: MATH 1220 or 1700 (MATH 1230 or 1710 recommended).

Credits: 4 hours

Textbook:  Steven J. Leon, Linear Algebra with Applications, 7th edition, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006, together with the accompanying student study guide.  We will cover most of chapters 1-6.

Homework:  Here is the list of homework assignments for the semester.  Due dates will be announced in class (usually two class days after being covered in class).  Homework will usually be graded on an attempted/not attempted basis.

Grades:  Course grades will be determined by an accumulation of points from homework (up to 100 pts), quizzes (up to 100 pts), three in-class exams (up to 300 pts, 100 pts each), and a final exam (up to 200 pts).  That is a total of 700 possible points.  I will be at least as generous as follows:  A-at least 630; BA-at least 595; B-at least 560; CB- at least 525; C-at least 490; DC-at least 455; D-at least 420. 

Exam dates:  Tuesday, Sep. 23; Friday, Oct. 17; Tuesday, Nov. 11---all in class.  Final exam is Monday, Dec. 8, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Collaboration:  You may work together on homework, but not quizzes or exams.  If you do work together, or if you receive assistance from someone else, please say so on your paper (e.g., "I worked with Arthur Cayley on problems 5 and 7, and with Elie Cartan on problems 10 and 15").  Each person is responsible for writing up his/her own version of the solution.

Accommodation for Disabilities:  Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Ms. Beth Denhartigh at 387-2116 or at beth.denhartigh@wmich.edu at the beginning of the semester. A disability determination must be made by this office before any accommodations are provided by the instructor.

Student Conduct and Academic Honesty:
You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the academic policies and procedures
in the Undergraduate or Graduate Catalogs (found online, http://catalog.wmich.edu ) and from the Office of Student Conduct (at http://www.osc.wmich.edu/ ) that pertain to student rights and responsibilities. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity, and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.