Text: David C. Lay, Linear Algebra and its Applications
Professor: F. Dias, 201C Stratton, X5069, E-mail - fdias
Office Hours: MTThF 11-12, or by appointment
Web page: http://www.math.wpi.edu/Course_Materials/MA2071AC05/
PLA: Jessica Clark (jclark)
The goals of this course are as follows.
- Learn to solve linear systems
- Learn how to apply linear systems to problems from various disciplines
- Learn the basic properties of vector spaces
Linear algebra is an essential part of the mathematics,
science and engineering disciplines. The material in this course will
be very important in your future studies.
This course meets four times a week for lectures, where the basic
concepts will be introduced. There is also one
conference section per week.
The PLA is there to
facilitate your learning; she is
not there to do the homework problems for you.
- Homework
The homework assignments will be given on class and listed on the course web
page. Completing these exercises is essential to your mastery of the
material. Homework will be collected each week in conference and
graded. Late homework will not be accepted
without prior arrangement with the instructor. Homework scores will
count as 15% of your final grade.
- Exam
There will be two hour exams during the term. Each will count 25% of
your final grade. Dates are January 28 and February 11.
There will also be a comprehensive final exam in the last week of the
course, probably on Wednesday. This exam will count as 35% of your
final grade.
- Week 1
- Linear equations and matrices
Secs. 1.1-1.5
- Week 2
- More on linear systems, linear transformations
Secs. 1.6-1.9
- Week 3
- Inverse of a matrix, LU factorization, determinants
Secs. 2.1-2.5, 3.1-3.2
- Week 4
- Vector spaces
Secs. 4.1-4.4
- Week 5
- More on vector spaces
Secs. 4.5-4.8
- Week 6
- Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
Secs. 5.1-5.3
- Week 7
- Complex eigenvalues, iterative estimates for eigenvalues
Secs. 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, 5.8