MAT 304A Linear AlgebraSection 2 (3743)

SB 305A WeFr 9:25-10:40Salem State University

Instructor : Dr. Brian TraversOffice : Sullivan Building 308BPhone Number : 978.542.6339Email : btravers@salemstate.edu

Webpage : http://btravers.weebly.comOffice Hours : Mo,Tu,Th 8:00-9:00, WeFr 11:00-12:00 or by appointment

Required text : Linear Algebra with Applications, 1st edition by Jeffrey Holt.

Overview: This course is an introduction to vector spaces and linear transformations primarilyin Euclidean spaces. Topics will include the algebra of matrices, determinants, inner products,eigenvalues, and eigenvectors. Three lecture hours per week. Required of all mathematics majors.Prerequisite: MAT220.

Grading: There will be 2 in class exams, quizzes and a final exam. The exams are tentativelyscheduled for February 20th and April 3rd. Each of these exams will be worth 25% of your semestergrade. The final is on Thursday, May 8th at 11:00 AM and will be worth 30% of your semestergrade. Random quizzes will make up the final 20% of the grade.

Quizzes: There will be a quiz many classes that we do not have an exam. The quiz will be basedon the material in the sections covered through the previous class.

Homework: Homework will not be collected but it is expected that you do it. The only way tobe sure you understand something mathematical is by practice. The point of the homework is topractice the concepts we discuss in class. It does no good to go through the motions so use thehomework as a tool to make sure you understand the material. Quizzes may or may not comedirectly from the homework.

Attendance Policy : All students are expected to be familiar with the academic regulations, in-cluding those regarding Academic Integrity, for Salem State University as published in the collegecatalog. In addition, each student is responsible for completing all course requirements and forkeeping up with all that goes on in the course (whether or not the student is present). If you aregoing to miss a class, I expect an email or a call to my office before class begins. If you contactme ahead of time (other than unexpected situations that can be verified) then the absence will beexcused. If you do not contact me ahead of time then the absence will be unexcused. If you havean unexcused absence on the day of an exam, you will receive a zero for that grade. All unverified“excused” absences after the second one will be considered unexcused. For each unexcused absence,your final grade will be docked in the following manner:

No. of Absences Total Points Lost

1 12 1 + 2 = 33 1 + 2 + 3 = 6

and so forth

Note: For exams, arrangements must be made at least 24 hours in advance in orderfor an absence to be excused.

University Policy Statement: Salem State University is committed to providing equal access tothe educational experience for all students in compliance with Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Actand The Americans with Disabilities Act and to providing all reasonable academic accommodations,aids and adjustments. Any student who has a documented disability requiring an accommodation,aid or adjustment should speak with the instructor immediately. Students with Disabilities whohave not previously done so should provide documentation to and schedule an appointment withthe Office for Students with Disabilities and obtain appropriate services.

In the event of a university declared critical emergency, Salem State University reserves the rightto alter this course plan. Students should refer to www.salemstate.edu for further information andupdates. The course attendance policy stays in effect until there is a university declared criticalemergency. In the event of an emergency, please refer to the alternative educational plans for thiscourse located at http://btravers.weebly.com. Students should review the plans and gather allrequired materials before an emergency is declared.

Global Goals

This course is intended to provide you with an understanding of

• The definition and properties of matrices, vector spaces and inner product spaces.

• The concept of the determinant.

• The relationship between eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

• The concept of a linear transformation.

Instructional Objectives1

By the end of the semester, you should be able to :

• Solve systems of linear equations

• Perform elementary matrix operations

• Find the basis and dimension of a vector space.

• Find the inverse of an invertible matrix.

• The determinant of an n× n matrix.

• Compute eigenvalues and the associated eigenvectors.

Miscellaneous

• I do not give makeup quizzes. If you are going to miss a class, I want to know as soon aspossible. If you either call my office or send me an email BEFORE the class begins, thenI will grade you out of one less quiz at the end of the semester. If you do not contact mebeforehand, then you get a zero on the quiz.

• I expect you to do all of the homework problems. If you are having trouble, you can come tome for help or you can go to the Math Lab (Sullivan Building 306).

• Believe it or not, it is actually helpful to read the textbook. If you read the material, itwill reinforce the topics covered in class. It is more beneficial, in my experience, to read thesection before we cover it so that you know where you have questions ahead of time.

• Please turn off the ringers on all cell phones and pagers before coming to class.

1All objectives will be assessed through quizzes and exams

Homework Problems

All assigned exercises will be the even problems within the given ranges unless specifically denoteddifferently.

1.1 4-14, 24-30, 36-38, 51-60 (all), 66-68

1.2 12-24, 44-54

1.4 2 (you don’t NEED technology), 6-12, 20

2.1 2, 4, 16, 18, 24-30, 42, 44, 50, 56-60, 63-72 (all), 76-80

2.2 8-12, 22-26, 30-46, 52-66, 70, 76

2.3 2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 30, 32, 40-52, 54, 56, 60, 68-72

3.1 2-10, 14-18, 22-26, 30-32, 40-48, 58, 78

3.2 2-6, 14, 20-22, 40-48, 56, 64

3.3 2-10, 18, 22-24, 42-50, 56-60

3.4 6-10, 14-16, 20, 32-42

4.1 2-12, 18-24, 28-30, 34-36, 46-60, 70-72 (all)

4.2 6-22, 30-32, 42-54, 64

4.3 2-12, 28-34, 44-54

5.1 8-16, 28-40, 46-48, 66, 70-78

5.2 2-18, 24-26, 36-40, 48-56, 60, 64

6.1 2-4, 12-16, 22-28, 38-46, 58

7.1 2-8, 14-16, 20, 26, 40-46

7.2 2-24, 34-42

7.3 2-16, 22-26, 38-46

8.1 2-8, 14-16, 22, 26-34, 46-56