Spring 2019 Math 235: Introduction to Linear Algebra

This is the course-wide webpage with common guidelines for all learning sections. Please consult your section webpage (below) for additional information.

Students waiting to enroll in the course should attend class and regularly check SPIRE to see if a slot in the desired section opens. If an override is still needed, please contact your (desired) section instructor and also the course chair Rob Kusner profkusner@gmail.com with the following information: (1) sections of the course which conflict with other courses on your academic schedule, and (2) your desired section of the course. (Unfortunately, in order to keep the sections balanced, we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to your desired section.)

Math 235 is an introductory course on linear algebra, covering systems of linear equations, matrices, linear maps, determinants, vector spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and orthogonality.

The schedule below gives the topics from the course text to be covered each week (this a guideline which may be modified by your instructor as necessary):

1/28-2/01: 1.3 (continued); 1.4 The matrix equation AX=B; 1.5 Solution sets of linear systems.

2/04-2/08: 1.7 Linear independence; 1.8 Introduction to linear maps.

2/11-2/15: 1.9 The matrix of a linear map; 2.1 Matrix operations.

2/18-2/22: 2.2 The inverse of a matrix; 2.3 Characterizations of invertible matrices.

2/25-3/01: 3.1 Introduction to determinants; 3.2 Properties of determinants.

Common Midterm I: 7-9PM Thursday 2/28 (rooms TBA - see below)

3/04-3/08: 3.2 (continued); 3.3 Cramer's rule, volume and linear maps; 4.1 Vector spaces and subspaces.

3/11-3/15: Spring Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3/18-3/22: 4.2 Null space (kernel), column space (image) and linear maps; 4.3 Linearly independent sets and bases.

3/25-3/29: 4.4 Coordinate systems; 4.5 The dimension of a vector space.

4/01-4/06: 4.6 Rank; 5.1 Eigenvectors, eigenvalues and eigenspaces.

4/08-4/12: 5.1 (continued); 5.2 The characteristic equation.

Common Midterm II: 7-9PM Tuesday 4/09 (rooms TBA - see below)

4/15-4/19: 5.3 Diagonalization; 5.5 Complex eigenvalues.

4/22-4/26: 6.1 Inner product, Length and orthogonality; 6.2 Orthogonal sets (if time permits).

4/29-5/03: 6.3 Orthogonal projection; 6.4 The Gram-Schmidt process; 6.5 Least squares (if time permits).

Final Exam: 10:30AM-12:30PM Tuesday 5/07 in Boyden Gym.

Learning Sections

Here are the class times, rooms (some TBA), and instructors:

MATH 235.01 MWF 1:25-2:15
Laura Colmenarejo, lcolmenarejo@math.umass.edu, LGRT 1534, 5-1231

MATH 235.02 MWF 11:15-12:05 Goessmann 51
MATH 235.05 MWF 10:10-11:00 Goessmann 51
Jonathan Simone, simone@math.umass.edu, LGRT 1332, 5-1662

MATH 235.03 TuTh 11:30-12:45 Goessmann 51
MATH 235.08 TuTh 10:00-11:15 Goessmann 51
Liubomir Chiriac, chiriac@math.umass.edu, LGRT 1115J, 5-7691

MATH 235.04 MonWed 2:30-3:45
Sean Hart, hart@math.umass.edu, LGRT 1435L, no phone

MATH 235.06 TuTh 2:30-3:45 LGRT 121
MATH 235.07 TuTh 1:00-2:15 LGRT 121
Rob Kusner, profkusner@gmail.com, LGRT 1425G and 1535

MATH 235.11 MWF 9:05-9:55 Goessmann 51
Lian Duan, duan@math.umass.edu, LGRT 1323I, no phone

There is no section 9 or 10.

Textbook and On-line Homework

The course text is Linear Algebra and its Applications (5th edition) by David Lay, Steven Lay & Judi McDonald.

MyMathLab is required for this course. An electronic copy of the textbook is included in your purchase of MyMathLab.

Go to www.mymathlab.com and use the Course ID for your learning section (provided by your section's instructor).

On-line homework and quizzes will be assigned through MyMathLab by your instructor. Here are suggestions from Pearson for getting started with MyMathLab.

There will be two midterm exams and a final exam. Past exams are available here.

You are allowed one 8.5" x 11" sheet of notes (both sides, in your own handwriting). Calculators and the textbook are not allowed on the exams. You should bring your student ID (UCard) to each exam.

If you have a documented conflict for one of the exams, in order to take the make-up exam you must give your instructor and the course chair Rob Kusner profkusner@gmail.com at least one week's written notice for a midterm exam and at least two weeks' written notice for the final exam. Your instructor and the course chair will evaluate your request and your instructor will arrange for the make-up. Other make-up exams (for example due to medical emergencies) will be handled directly by your section instructor. Make-up exams will not be given to accommodate travel plans.

The first midterm is scheduled for 7-9PM on Thursday 2/28/19 at the following locations:

• Goessmann 20: for students in 235.02 Simone (MWF 11:15) only!
• Goessmann 64: for students in 235.05 Simone (MWF 10:10) only!
• Hasbrouck 20: for students in 235.04 Hart (MW 2:30) + 235.06 & 07 Kusner (TuTh 2:30 & 1) + 235.11 Duan (MWF 9:05) only!
• Hasbrouck 124: for students in 235.03 Chiriac (TuTh 11:30) only!
• Hasbrouck 126: for students in 235.08 Chiriac (TuTh 10:00) only!
• Hasbrouck 134: for students in 235.01 Colmenarejo (MWF 1:25) only!

Also, an extra-time session (for those with contracts or documented conflicts pre-cleared with your instructor) is scheduled to take place:

• 5-9PM on Thursday 2/28/19 in LGRT 206

The topics for the first midterm may include the following sections of the textbook: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3

Please work through the problems at the end of Chapters 1 & 2 before the exam.

The second midterm is scheduled for 7-9PM on Tuesday 4/09/19 at the following locations:

• Hasbrouck 124: for students in 235.02 Simone (MWF 11:15) only!
• Hasbrouck 126: for students in 235.05 Simone (MWF 10:10) only!
• Hasbrouck 134: for students in 235.01 Colmenarejo (MWF 1:25) only!
• Herter 227: for students in 235.03 Chiriac (TuTh 11:30) + 235.04 Hart (MW 2:30) only!
• Herter 231: for students in 235.08 Chiriac (TuTh 10:00) + 235.04 Hart (MW 2:30) only!
• Marcus 131: for students in 235.06 & 07 Kusner (TuTh 2:30 & 1) + 235.11 Duan (MWF 9:05) only!

Again, an extra-time session (for those with contracts or documented conflicts pre-cleared with your instructor) is scheduled to take place:

• 5:05-9:05PM on Tuesday 4/09/19 in LGRT 206 (proctored by Kader)

The topics for the second midterm may include the following sections of the textbook: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6

Please work through the problems at the end of Chapters 3 & 4 before the exam.

The final exam is scheduled for 10:30AM-12:30PM on Tuesday 5/07/19 in Boyden Gym.

!!!!!!!!THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP/EXTRA-TIME SESSION!!!!!!!!

If you have a contract with DS, please contact them IMMEDIATELY to schedule your exam there.
They require a week advanced notice, so you must contact them BEFORE Monday 4/29/19

The topics for the final exam may include the following sections of the textbook: 4.5, 4.6, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 (too little time to include 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 this semester).

Please work through the problems at the end of Chapters 5 & 6 before the exam.

Please remember: you are allowed one 8.5" x 11" sheet of notes (both sides, in your own handwriting) for the final exam; calculators and the textbook are not allowed; and you should bring your student ID (UCard).

The four course assessments are equally weighted (25% each): Midterm I; Midterm II; Final exam; Homework, quizzes and class participation (determined by your section instructor).

UMass Amherst is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students. A student with a documented physical, psychological, or learning disability on file with Disability Services may be eligible for academic accommodations to help them succeed in this course. If you have a documented disability that requires an accommodation, please notify your instructor during the first two weeks of the semester so that we can make appropriate arrangements. It is also your responsibility to notify Disability Services (normally at least one week in advance) if you wish to take an exam there.