Math 201: Linear Algebra

Professor: Jonah Blasiak

Fall 2022

Section 2: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-3:50pm, One Drexel Plaza GL45
Course Description: This course covers standard topics of Linear Algebra: systems of linear equations, matrix algebra, determinants, vector spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonality. It is expected that students will get an idea of linearity, master some methods of abstract reasoning and proving mathematical statements.
Prerequisites: Math 121 or its equivalent.
Office Hours: Korman 241, Monday 4-5pm, Wednesday 4-5pm
Required text: Linear Algebra and Its Applications, by David C. Lay (6th Edition).
Grade Breakdown:
  • 10% Homework
  • 25% Weekly quizzes
  • 25% Midterm
  • 40% Final
    • Grading Policy:
  • A: 85-100%
  • B: 70-85%
  • C: 55-70%
  • D-F: 0-55%
    • Exam Policy: No books or electronic devices are allowed on the midterm or exam. No collaboration is permitted at the midterm or exam. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UPS FOR EXAMS.
    The midterm will be on Thursday October 27th from 8:00-8:50am (our common exam time) ) in STRATN 113.
    Students with special exam-taking requirements or time conflicts should contact me by October 04.
    Quiz Policy: Quizzes will be given in class most Tuesdays. They will be about 15 minutes long. Same rules as the exams apply.
    Homework Policy: You may consult each other and the textbook above. List all people and sources who aided you and whom you aided, and write up the solutions independently, in your own language. It is easy nowadays to find solutions to almost anything online. DO NOT consult such solutions until after turning your homework. Late homeworks will not be accepted.
    Please visit this site (https://www.math.drexel.edu/~jblasiak/LinearAlgebraMath201Fall2022TTh.html) frequently for new information. Updates to the syllabus and reading assignments, homeworks, and practice exams will be posted here as the course progresses.

    Syllabus

    Week 1: Sep 20, Sep 22
    Linear equations: Sections 1.1-1.2
    Read Sections 1.1-1.2 and the handouts Joy of Sets and Mathematical Hygiene.
    Homework 1 due Sep 26. Includes book problems Section 1.1: 14, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36; 1.2: 8, 12, 20, 24, 36

    Week 2: Sep 27, Sep 29
    Linear equations: Sections 1.3-1.5, 1.7
    Homework 2 due Oct 04.

    Week 3: Oct 04, Oct 06
    Linear transformations and matrix algebra: Sections 1.7-1.9, 2.1
    Homework 3 due Oct 11.
    There will be a quiz on Tuesday, October 04 covering 1.1-1.5, emphasizing the newest material 1.3-1.5.

    Week 4: Oct 11, Oct 13
    Inverses, determinants: Sections 2.1-2.3
    Homework 4 due Oct 18.
    There will be a quiz on Tuesday, October 11 covering 1.1-1.5, 1.7-1.9 emphasizing the newest material 1.7-1.9.

    Week 5: Oct 18, Oct 20
    Determinants: Sections 3.1-3.3
    Homework 5 due Oct 25.
    Quiz on Tuesday Oct 18.

    Week 6: Oct 25, Oct 27
    Vector spaces: Sections 4.1-4.2
    No quiz the week of Oct 25, 27 because of the midterm. No class Thursday Oct 27 because of the midterm.
    Homework 6 due Nov 03.

    Midterm Thursday Oct 27 from 8:00-8:50am in STRATN 113. It will cover Sections 1.1-1.5, 1.7-1.9, 2.1-2.3, 3.1-3.3, and 4.1. Here is the midterm from 2015 and solutions.

    Week 7: Nov 01, Nov 03
    Vector spaces: Sections 4.3-4.5
    Quiz Thursday Nov 03
    Homework 7 due Nov 10.

    Week 8: Nov 08, Nov 10
    Rank, eigenvectors: Sections 4.5, 4.6, 5.1
    Homework 8 due Nov 17.
    Note that the 6th Edition Section 4.5 is equivalent to 5th Edition Sections 4.5 and 4.6.

    Week 9: Nov 15, Nov 17
    Eigenvectors, eigenvalues, and applications to Markov chains: Sections 5.1, 4.9, 5.2
    Homework 9 due Dec 01.

    Week 10: Nov 22
    Complex eigenvalues: Section 5.5

    Week 11: Nov 29, Dec 01
    Diagonalization, final review: Section 5.3
    Quiz on Thursday, Dec 01 on 5.2, 5.3, 5.5.

    The Final Exam is on Tuesday, Dec 06, 10:30am-12:30pm, in CURTIS 340. Here is a practice final and solutions. Our final will be significantly easier than this one and also note that it has questions on inner products which we have not covered.

    Homework Help: Math Resource Center (Korman 207)
    Important University Policies:

    Academic Dishonesty

    Course Drop Policy

    Code of Conduct

    Disability Resources:
    Students requesting accommodations due to a disability at Drexel University need to request a current Accommodations Verification Letter (AVL) in the ClockWork database before accommodations can be made. These requests are received by Disability Resources (DR), who then issues the AVL to the appropriate contacts. For additional information, visit the DR website at drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/overview/, or contact DR for more information by phone at 215.895.1401, or by email at disability@drexel.edu.
    Outcomes: The students should be able to solve systems of linear equations by Gaussian elimination (matrix row reduction), find matrix rank, column and row spaces, determinants, know basics of matrix algebra, understand orthogonality of vectors and the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization algorithm.