Math 20F - Linear Algebra

Instructor: Sam Buss
U.C. San Diego, Spring 2003

Quick Links:    Written Homework,   Matlab Homework,    Quizzes,    Lectures,     Exams,     Office Hours    Handouts

These web pages change frequently, so please check back regularly.  You may need to click the "Refresh" button to get the latest versions.
NEW: Basic Skills handout updated.
NEW: Midterm #2 answers available online below. 
NEW: Office hours change for final exam week.
NEW: Quiz 6.5 available with answers

 

Lectures: Center Hall, room 115.   MWF  1:00-1:50.
               Thursday sections from 2:00 to 7:00 held in Center 203.
               Tuesday computer labs locations in the Galbraith Hall CLICS NW Mezzanine lab.

Instructor: Sam Buss, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science,
                    APM 6210, sbuss@math.ucsd.edu, 534-6455.

Teaching assistants: (Teach Thursday sections, and Tuesday MATLAB sessions).
    1. Liz Fenwick.  APM 5760,  jfenwick@math.ucsd.edu. Section meeting times: 4:00 and 5:00.
    2. Poon Chuan "Adrian" Lim, APM 6402B, plim@math.ucsd.edu.  Section meeting times: 6:00 and 7:00.
    3. Ryan Tully-Doyle, APM 6439B, rtullydo@math.ucsd.edu.  Section meeting times: 2:00 and 3:00.

Textbook: Steven J. Leon,  Linear Algebra with Applications, Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2002.  It is highly recommended that you attempt a preliminary reading of the text book material before it is covered in lecture, and then read it thoroughly again after the material is covered in lecture!  Author's errata page.

Syllabus: This course covers most of the textbook up through approximately section 6.4.  The course work includes homework assignments, quizzes, computer lab assignments, two one-hour midterm exams, and one three-hour final exam. 

Office hours:
    Prof. Sam Buss:  APM 6210.
            Final exam week office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9:00-10:00.
            Also running review session, Tuesday, 7:00pm-9:00pm, in Center Hall 115.

            Office hours: Monday 9:00-9:50, Wednesday 10:00-10:50, Thursday 10:00-10:50.
            Feel free to just drop by at other times. Or email or phone to make other appointments.
            I often have time to talk right after class, too.
    Liz Fenwick, APM 5760.
            Final exam week office hours: Monday 12:15-2:00, Thursday 10:00-11:15.
            Office hours Thursday 1:30-3:50 (in APM 5760)
            Extra office hours in CLICS: Tuesday 6:00-7:00.
    Adrian Lim, APM 6402B.
            Final exam week office hours: Wednesday 3:00-5:00, Thursday 8:00-10:00.
            Office hours Tuesday, 10:00-12:00.
    Ryan Tully-Doyle, APM 6349B.
            Final exam week office hours: Tuesday 12-2, Wednesday 11-12.
            Office hours Thursday 11:00-12:00, Friday 11:00-12:00.

Handouts
    1. Determinants (Lectures 7 and 8): PDF format and postscript format.
    2. Computation skills. Through final exam topics.  PDF format and postscript format.
    3. Linear transformations and matrices.  PDF format and postscript format.

Other resources:  
        OASIS has free tutoring, Monday, Wednesday 11:00-12:50, Center Hall 333.
        The textbook's web site has some interesting sample problems, and interactive true/false exams.
        The web pages from my Winter 2003 Math20F course include past quizzes, midterms and final exams.

Section meetings:
        Thursday section meetings begin April 3, I think (watch for an announcement Wednesday on this!).  They review upcoming homework problems, collect the completed computer assignments, and (most weeks) give a quiz.  Please attend the Thursday section in which you are officially enrolled.  If you want to change sections, please try to do so through the add/drop process.  In exceptional cases, you may attend another section.
        Tuesday section meetings begin April 8, and the first computer assignment is due that next week.   Tuesday sections cover the Matlab assignments.  You are not required to attend the Tuesday section in which you are enrolled.

Lecture topics.  A list of the topics covered in the lectures (usually updated a day or two after the lecture).

Homework assignments. Written homework assignments from the text book.
        We do not yet know if these can be graded; however, you must do them and hand them in.
        Homeworks are to be handed in weekly in the Friday lecture.  You can discuss them in the Thursday section meetings.

Matlab assignments.  Weekly computer assignments, Tuesday sessions, due Thursday in section.
        Computer lab sections held Tuesdays,  in the CLICS lab, upstairs in Galbraith Hall mezzanine (northwest corner).
        Common list of assignments for all Math 20F lectures.
        Liz Fenwick and Sam Buss have Matlab on their office computers and can help with Matlab assignments during regular office hours.

Quizzes.  Quizzes held most weeks on Thursday, on preannounced topics, and take approximately 15 minutes.
        First quiz is Thursday, April 10 (second week).
        Quizzes will be held in the last 15 minutes of the Thursday section meetings, unless your TA alters this.
        You may drop your lowest two quiz grades.
        The quiz topics will be announced in class one or two lectures in advance. 

Midterm exams.  50 minute long exams -- during a regular lecture hour.
        Midterm #1: Monday, April 28.  Test with answers available in PDF and postscript formats.
            Topics: Through approximately section 3.2 (details to be announced).
            Midterm review session: Sunday, April 27, 7:00-8:30pm, Center Hall 115.
            Quiz on April 24th will be a ``self-assessment'' quiz.
            Bring pencils only for the midterm.  No "cheat sheet" or notes or text or calculators allowed. Blue books are not needed.
        Midterm #2: Friday, May 23.  Test with answers available in PDF and postscript formats
            Topics: Through chapter 5.3 (least squares).
            Midterm review session: Thursday, May 22, 8:00-9:30pm, Center Hall 115.
            Skills study sheet. Available in PDF and postscript formats.
            Bring pencils only for the midterm.  No "cheat sheet" or notes or text or calculators allowed. Blue books are not needed.

Final exam. Comprehensive exam covering all course material.  Three hours. In usual lecture room.
            Time/Date: Thursday, June 12. 11:30-2:30.
            Review session: Tuesday, June 10, 7:00-9:00PM, Center Hall 115 (usual lecture room)
            You may bring a single 8.5x11 sheet of notes.  No other text, notes, calculator, etc. may be used.
            Please bring student ID with photo.

Grading.   The final exam and the two midterm exams will count the most:  40% for the final, and 20% for each of the two midterms.  The quizzes and lab assignments, and homework assignments will each count for about 5 to 8% of the course grade.  (Percentages are only approximate and are subject to minor changes.)
    Although the percentages for homework assignments, quizzes and labs are low, they are a required part of the course.  If you completely omit doing the Matlab assignments, for instance, then your grade may be reduced beyond the indicated percentage.

Identification.   We have a large class, and it can be difficult to keep track all the grades.  Please label all assignments and exams with (a) your name, (b) your student ID number,  and (c) the time of the section that you attend (so we can return it to you).  If you prefer to use a name different from that in the official UCSD records, please put both versions of your name!  Poorly labeled assignments may receive reduced credit or even no credit.

Academic integrity.  Academic integrity is very important, and if cheating is detected (particularly on exams) it will treated seriously, possibly including referral to a dean. 
    For homework problems and computer lab work, it is permitted to work with other students or in groups or to get help from a TA or instructor, but you should write your solutions on your own.  If someone shows you an answer to a homework problem, you should wait at least 10 minutes and then try to write up the answer on your own.  This is to be sure you are really learning the homework material!  If someone helps you with a computer lab, you should be sure that you do all your own typing, and that you understand how to do it.