Mathematics Department

MATH 201 - INTRODUCTION TO LINEAR ALGEBRA
(FALL 2007)

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Course #: 74433
• Class meets: MWF 9:30-10:20 in Sears 480
  
• Instructor: Stanislaw J. Szarek (pronounced 'Shareck')
• Office: Yost 320
• Office hours: Currently M 10:30-11:30, W 1-2, by appointment or by luck
• Phone: 368-2913
• E-mail: szarek at cwru.edu (the preferred mode of communication)
• WWW Home Page: http://www.cwru.edu/artsci/math/szarek/
• Class WWW Page (this page): http://www.cwru.edu/artsci/math/szarek/MATH201/

COURSE STRUCTURE & GRADES

The course: (Catalog Description) Matrix operations, systems of linear equations, vector spaces, subspaces, bases and linear independence, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization of matrices, linear transformations, determinants. Less theoretical than MATH 308. May not be taken for credit by mathematics majors. Only one of MATH 201 or MATH 308 may be taken for credit. Prereq: MATH 122 or MATH 124 or MATH 126.

Text: "Introduction to linear algebra" by Gilbert Strang, 3rd edition, Wellesley-Cambridge Press
Note: If you want to use some other edition, you may try AT YOUR OWN risk.

Exams: There will be three midterm exams (in class; tentative dates 9/24, 10/17 and 11/19) and the final exam (12/17, 8:30-11:30 a.m.)

Grades: Your Final Grade in the course will be based on three midterm exams (1/6 each), the final exam (2/6) and homework/projects/class participation (1/6).
Students with special needs should contact Educational Support Services.

Computers, network etc.: You are required to have access to a computer and the Case network. Most of class related communications will occur over the internet. In particular, it will be assumed that you are checking your e-mail and/or the course web page regularly. There will be in-class demonstrations using MATLAB software. You will be required to use MATLAB for projects and homework. (If by some miracle you know Mathematica, that should also be sufficient for the latter.)

SYLLABUS & HOMEWORK

• We will cover most of Chapters 1-7 from the textbook and, time permitting, some other selected topics.
• Homework will be assigned and (with some exceptions) collected daily. Do the homework as it is assigned. Ask questions right away if you find there is something you do not understand. I will often check and answer email at night. Doing and understanding the homework problems has an immense influence upon your final grade.
  It is OK (and indeed encouraged) to discuss homework assignments with fellow students. However, any submitted work must be your own. Merely copying someone else's work is unethical, a waste of time and may be penalized.
• More detailed syllabus, including regularly updated assignments