Math 309D

Spring 2008

  • Time and Place: MWF 11:00AM in 215 Natural Sciences Complex.
  • Instructor: Jason Manning
  • TA: Miodrag Iovanov
  • Text: David Lay, Linear Algebra and its Applications, 3rd edition. The UB custom edition is identical to the standard edition. If you paid over $93 for this book at the UB Bookstore, you paid too much! There was an error made at the bookstore, and they will give you a rebate if you bring them your receipt.
  • Web page: www.math.buffalo.edu/~j399m/teaching/309D.shtml. Updates to the syllabus will appear here.

    Course Description

    Introduction to Linear Algebra. We'll cover most of the topics in Lay's text. Topics include: Solving systems of linear equations, matrix algebra, determinants, vector spaces and linear transformations, eigen(vectors|values), orthorgonality, quadratic forms.

    Grading

    Your grade in the course will be based on quizzes and homework (25% together), two midterms (20% each) and a comprehensive final exam (35%).

    Homework

    See here for homework assignments.

    Homework assignments will be assigned each day, and collected the Friday of the following week. A selection of the problems will be graded, depending on grader availability. Because the grading is not instantaneous, and you may wish to refer to your solutions while studying, you are encouraged to save a copy of your homework.

    Quizzes

    Written quizzes will be given at various times in class and in recitation. They may or may not be announced ahead of time. There are no make-up quizzes, but your lowest quiz score will be dropped.

    Exams

    Two midterms and one final exam will be given. Dates will be announced in class and on the webpage. You are responsible for knowing when and where the exams will be. No calculators, cell phones, or other electronic gadgets are allowed in the exam. If you must miss an exam due to a legitimate emergency, you must let me know as soon as possible (preferably by email, before the exam). If you miss an exam without giving a legitimate reason in a timely manner, you will receive a grade of zero on the exam. There are no make-up exams.

    The first midterm exam will be Wednesday, February 20th (note date correction -- I promise this is the last date change for this exam). The first exam will cover Chapters 1 and 2.

    The second midterm will be Friday, March 28th. The final exam will be May 1st, at 8am in NSC 201.

    Miscellaneous

    Help Center: Room 110 of the math building is staffed by graduate students who are there to answer any math question you might have. For hours and more info, see http://www.math.buffalo.edu/help_center.html.

    Disabilities: If you have a diagnosed disability (physical, learning or psychological) which will make it difficult to carry out the course work as outlined, or requires accommodations such as recruiting note takers, readers, or extended time on exams and/or assignment, please advise me during the first two weeks of the course so we may review possible arrangements for reasonable accommodations.

    Making up incompletes: To make up an incomplete in a math course you must:

    1. NOT re-register for the course-- you are making up an incomplete in your original course.
    2. Appear in person at the Math building, Room 244, ask for Rosemarie Marciniak, and ask her to initiate an incomplete petition for you.
    3. Sign the petition.
    4. a. If your original instructor determined that the work was to be completed with him/her, take the approved petition form to your ORIGINAL instructor for his/her signature. b. If your original instructor determined that the work was to be completed by your repeating the course, take the approved petition form to your NEW INSTRUCTOR for his/her signature.
    5. Return the petition form to Rosemarie Marciniak in Room 244 of the Math building.

    Last updated 5 February 2008