Math 20F - Linear Algebra

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

This is an old course page, but is kept available for reference reasons.

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

These web page change frequently, so please check back regularly.  You may need to click the "Refresh" button to get the latest versions.

Lectures: Peterson Hall room 110.   MWF  4:00-4:50.
               Tuesday sections from 2:00 to 7:00 held in Center 220.  The 1:00 section is held in Center 217B.
               Thursday computer labs are in the NW Mezzanine of the Galbraith Hall CLICS lab.

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

Teaching assistants: (Teach Tuesday sections, and Thursday MATLAB sessions).
    1. Poon Chuan "Adrian" Lim, APM 6402B, plim@math.ucsd.edu.  3:00 and 4:00 sections (B02 and B03).
    2. Tim McMurry, APM 2325, tmcmurry@math.ucsd.edu.  5:00 sections (B04).
    3. Gregg Musiker, APM 6439B, gmusiker@math.ucsd.edu.  6:00 and 7:00 sections (B05 and B06)
    4. Ryan Tully-Doyle, APM 6439B, rtullydo@math.ucsd.edu.  1:00 and 2:00 sections (B07 and B01).

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!

Syllabus: This course covers most of the textbook up through approximately section 6.4 or 6.5.  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.
            Monday 2:00-2:50, Tuesday 11:30-12:20, Wednesday 1:00-1:50.  Also, Monday, March 17, 4:00-4:50.
            Feel free to just drop by at other times. Or email or phone to make other appointments.
            I usually have time to talk right after class, too.
    Adrian Lim, APM 6402B.
            Pre-exam office hours: Monday and Tuesday 10:00-12:00 (Mar 17,18).
            Tuesday 10:00-12:00, Friday 12:00-1:00.  <== Friday hours not held during finals week.
    Tim McMurry, APM 2325.
            Pre-exam office hours: Friday, Mar. 14, 3:00-4:00; Tuesday, Mar 18, 10:00-11:00
            Tuesday 3:00-4:00, Wednesday 3:00-4:00.  <== Not held during finals week.
    Gregg Musiker, APM 6349B.
            Pre-exam office hours: Friday, Mar. 14, 1:00-2:00 and 3:00-4:00.
            Monday 1:00-2:00 and 3:00-4:00, Wednesday 1:00-2:00. <== Not held during finals week.
    Ryan Tully-Doyle, APM 6349B.
            Tuesday 11:00-12:00, Thursday 10:00-11:00, Friday 11:00-12:00.

Handouts
    1. Determinants (Lectures 7 and 8): PDF format and postscript format.
        Professor Bender has prepared similar notes, also available in PDF and postscript formats.
    2. Linear transformations and matrix representations: PDF format and postscript format.
    3. Study guide, list of "Basic Skills": PDF format and postscript format.  (Will be updated later for the final exam.)
            Corrections from hardcopy handed out: you do not need to know kernel, image or homogeneous coordinates.

Other resources:  
        OASIS has free tutoring, TuTh 2:00-3:50 Center 330, TuTh, 4:00-5:50, Center 356.
        The textbook web site has many online resources.

Section meetings:
        Tuesday section meetings begin January 14 (week two).  They review upcoming homework problems, collect the completed computer assignments, and (most weeks) give a quiz.  Please attend the Tuesday 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.
        Thursday section meetings begin January 9, but the first computer assignment begins the next week.  They meet in the computer lab and you work on your computer assignment in section.  You are encouraged, but not required to attend the Thursday 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 Wednesday lecture.  You can discuss them in the Tuesday section meetings.

Matlab assignments.  Weekly computer assignments, Thursday sessions, due Tuesday in section.
        Computer lab sections held Thursdays, in the CLICS NW MEZZ lab -- Upstairs in NW corner of CLICS in Galbraith Hall
        Common list of assignments for all Math 20F lectures.

        NEW: Check the course Matlab page for changes in due dates!

Quizzes.  Quizzes held most weeks on Tuesday, on preannounced topics, and take approximately 15 minutes.
        Quizzes will be held in the last 15 minutes of the Tuesday section meetings.  (This could change to be held during regular lecture.)
        The quiz topics will be announced in class at least two lectures in advance.  You may drop your lowest two quiz grades.

Midterm exams.  50 minute long exams -- during a regular lecture hour.
        Midterm #1: Wednesday, February 5. Now available:  Midterm #1 with answers: PDF format and postscript format.
            Topics: Through section 3.2.  (We skipped section 2.3 on Cramer's rule.)
            Review session: Tuesday evening at 8:00PM, Peterson Hall 104, February 4.
        Midterm #2: Wednesday, March 5. Now available:  Midterm #2 with answers: PDF format and postscript format.
            Topics: Cumulative, with 2/3 or more of the exam on material since the first midterm.
                        More information to be announced.
            You are not allowed to use notes, calculators, textbooks, etc.
            Review session: Tuesday evening (March 4th) at 8:00PM, Center Hall 115.

Final exam. Comprehensive exam covering all course material.  Now available: exam in PDF format and postscript format.
    Will cover material up through Chapter 6.2, page 347.
    You may use one sheet of notes (double sided, 8x11 inches).  No calculators or textbook or other material permitted.
    Exam Date & Time: Tuesday, March 18, 3:00-6:00 PM.
    Review session: Monday, March 17, 7:00-8:30PM, Peterson Hall 110.
    The "Basic Skills" study guide has been updated for the final. 

Grading.   The final exam and the two midterm exams will count the most, 35% for the final, and 20% for each of the two midterms.  The quizzes and lab assignments, and homeworks, and will each count for about 5 to 10% 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 is time-consuming 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.

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.