This is the Course Website with specific information for Math 235 Section 8. Information regarding all sections can be found here. We will use Moodle to post some course material and to record grades.
We meet: MWF 9:05 - 9:55 am in LGRT 219
The syllabus is here. It contains the information in this website and a little more.
Most Important Rule:
I endorse Federico Ardila's axioms.
Axiom 1. Mathematical talent is distributed equally among different groups, irrespective of geographic, demographic, and economic boundaries.
Axiom 2. Everyone can have joyful, meaningful, and empowering mathematical experiences.
Axiom 3. Mathematics is a powerful, malleable tool that can be shaped and used differently by various communities to serve their needs.
Axiom 4. Every student deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Instructor: Cristian Rodriguez
Email: rodriguez@math.umass.edu
Office: LGRT 1341
Office Hours:
Tuesdays 9:30 - 10:30 am
Thursdays 2:00 - 3:00 pm
By Appointment. I understand that these days some students prefer to meet remotely. If this is your case, I am happy to schedule a remote meeting using zoom.
We will use Piazza as a tool to ask and answer questions electronically. I will add the option to post questions anonymously so that everyone is comfortable asking a question. I strongly suggest to make your questions public because if you have a question it is likely that another student has the same question. To register use the following link with the access code provided in class.
piazza.com/umass/spring2022/math235
Although this tool will be available I believe that the best way for me to answer questions and the best way for you to get a good answer is through office hours or in class.
Textbook: Linear Algebra and Its Applications (5th edition) by David Lay, Steven Lay, and Judi McDonald.
Online Homework System: We will use the online homework system MyMathLab. An electronic copy of the textbook is also included in your purchase of MyMathLab. I will provide a handout with details to register in the course in MyMathLab.
We will roughly cover chapters 1 to 6 of our textbook. You can find the tentative schedule and our class log here.
Chapter 1 - Linear Equations in Linear Algebra:
Systems of linear equations (1.1), Row reduction and echelon forms (1.2), Vector equations (1.3), The matrix equation Ax = b (1.4), Solutions sets of linear systems (1.5), Linear independence (1.7), Introduction to linear transformations (1.8), The matrix of a linear transformation (1.9).
Chapter 2 - Matrix Algebra:
Matrix Operations (2.1); The Inverse of a Matrix (2.2); Characterizations of Invertible Matrices (2.3).
Chapter 3 - Determinants:
Introduction to determinant (3.1); Properties of Determinants (3.2); Cramer’s Rule, Volume and Linear transformations (3.3).
Chapter 4 - Vector Spaces:
Vector Spaces and Subspaces (4.1); Null Spaces, Column Spaces, and Linear Transformations (4.2); Linearly Independent Sets; Basis (4.3); Coordinate Systems (4.4); The Dimension of a Vector Space (4.4), Rank (4.6); Change of Basis (4.7).
Chapter 5 - Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors:
Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues (5.1); The Characteristic Equation (5.2); Diagonalization (5.3); Eigen- vectors and Linear Transformations (5.4); Complex Eigenvalues (5.5).
Chapter 6 - Orthogonality and Least Squares
Inner Product, Length, and Orthogonality (6.1); Orthogonal Sets (6.2); Orthogonal Projections (6.3); The Gram-Schmidt Process (6.4); Least-Squares Problems (6.5 - if time permits).
First day of class .................................... Wednesday, January 26
Last day to add/drop ............................. Monday, February 7
Holiday - Presidents Day (No Class) .... Monday, February 21
Monday schedule ( We meet) ............... Tuesday, February 22
Midterm I ................................................ Thursday, March 3
Spring Break ........................................... March 13 - March 20
Last day to drop with W ......................... Tuesday, March 29
Midterm II ............................................... Tuesday, April 12
Holiday - Patriots Day (No Class) ......... Monday, April 18
Last day of Classes ............................... Wednesday, May 04
Final Exam .............................................. TBD
The course letter-grade scale is:
UMass Amherst is committed to providing an equal educational oppor- tunity 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. Information on services and materials for registering with Disability Services are also available on their website.
We will follow the UMass Code of Conduct. See this link.