Campus:Ohio University, Athens Campus
Department:Mathematics
Academic Year:2013 - 2014
Term:Spring Semester
Course:Math 3210
Title:Linear Algebra
Section:100 (Class Number 5362)
Instructor:Mark Barsamian
Contact Information:My contact information is posted on my web page.
Office Hours:My office hours are posted on my web page.

Class Meets: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:45am - 11:40am in Morton 326

Course Description: A course in linear algebra for students majoring or minoring in the mathematical sciences. The course will introduce both the practical and theoretical aspects of linear algebra and students will be expected to complete both computational and proof-oriented exercises. Topic covered will include: Solutions to linear systems, matrices and matrix algebra, determinants, n-dimensional real vector spaces and subspaces, bases and dimension, linear mappings, matrices of linear mappings, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization, inner product spaces, orthogonality and applications.

Prerequisites: MATH 2302 and (3050 or CS 3000) and WARNING: No credit for both this course and the following (always deduct credit for first course taken): MATH 3200

Paper Syllabus (version 2): The syllabus handed out on the first day of class can be obtained at the following link: (syllabus) The information on the paper syllabus is the same as the information on this web page. (version 2 has the correct due dates for the homework sets.) (Note: This syllabus is no longer current: see the revised schedule and revised homework list at the bottom of this web page.)

Textbook Information
Title:Linear Algebra, 4th Edition click on the book to see a larger image
click to enlarge
Authors:Friedberg, Insel, Spence
Publisher:Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2003
ISBN-10:0130084514
ISBN-13:9780130084514

Calculators will not be allowed on exams.

Special Needs: If you have physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities that require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible so that your needs may be appropriately met.

Grading: During the semester, you will accumulate points:

Homework Sets (10 Sets, 10 points each):100 points possible
In-Class Exams (best 3 of 4 exams, 200 points each):600 points possible
Comprehensive Final Exam:300 points possible
Total:1000 points possible

At the end of the semester, your Total will be converted to your Course Grade:

Total ScorePercentageGradeInterpretation
900 - 100090% - 100%AYou mastered all concepts, with no significant gaps
850 - 89985% - 89.9%A-
800 - 84980% - 84.9%B+You mastered all essential concepts and many advanced concepts, but have some significant gaps.
750 - 79975% -79.9%B
700 - 74970% - 74.9%B-
650 - 69965% - 69.9%C+You mastered most essential concepts and some advanced concepts, but have many significant gaps.
600 - 64960% - 64.9%C
550 - 59955% - 59.9%C-
400 - 43940% - 54.9%DYou mastered some essential concepts.
0 - 3990% - 39.9%FYou did not master essential concepts.

Note that although this grading scale may look easy compared to the usual 90,80,70,60 scale, it is actually not easier. The reasons are:

Course Structure: One learns math primarily by trying to solve problems. This course is designed to provide structure for you as you learn to solve problems, and to test how well you have learned to solve them. This structure is provided in the following ways.

Attendance Policy: Attendance is required for all lectures and exams.

Missing Class: If you miss a class for any reason, it is your responsibility to copy someone’s notes and study them. I will not use office hours to teach topics discussed in class to students who were absent.

Missing a Quiz or Exam Because of Illness: If you are too sick to take a quiz or exam, then you must

  1. send me an e-mail before the quiz/exam, telling me that you are going to miss it because of illness,
  2. then go to the Hudson Student Health Center.
  3. Later, you will need to bring me documentation from Hudson showing that you were treated there. Without those three things, you will not be given a make-up.

Missing Quizzes or Exams Because of University Activity: If you have a University Activity that conflicts with one of our quizzes or exams, you must contact me before the quiz or exam to discuss arrangements for a make-up. I will need to see documentation of your activity. If you miss a quiz or an exam because of a University Activity without notifying me in advance, you will not be given a make-up.

Late Homework Policy: Homework is due at the start of class on the due date. Late homework is not accepted.

Schedule (Note that the Schedule has been revised.)

WeekDatesClass topics
1Mon Jan 131.1 Introduction
Wed Jan 151.2 Vector Spaces
Fri Jan 171.3 Subspaces
2Mon Jan 20Holiday: No Class
Wed Jan 221.3 Subspaces (H1 Due)
Fri Jan 241.4 Linear Combinations and Systems of Linear Equations
3Mon Jan 271.5 Linear Dependence and Linear Independence
Wed Jan 291.6 Bases and Dimension (H2 Due)
Fri Jan 311.6 Bases and Dimension
4Mon Feb 3Classes cancelled due to severe weather
Wed Feb 5In-Class Exam 1 Covering Chapter 1
Fri Feb 72.1 Linear Transformations, Null Spaces, and Ranges
5Mon Feb 102.1 Linear Transformations, Null Spaces, and Ranges
Wed Feb 122.2 The Matrix Representation of a Linear Transformation
Fri Feb 142.3 Composition of Linear Transformations; Matrix Multiplication (H3 Due)
6Mon Feb 172.3 Composition of Linear Transformations; Matrix Multiplication
Wed Feb 192.4 Invertibility and Isomorphisms
Fri Feb 212.4 Invertibility and Isomorphisms (H4 Due)
7Mon Feb 242.5 The Change of Coordinate Matrix
Wed Feb 26In-Class Exam 2 Covering Chapter 2
Fri Feb 283.1 Elementary Matrix Operations and Elementary Matrices
8Mon Mar 3Spring Break: No Class
Wed Mar 5Spring Break: No Class
Fri Mar 7Spring Break: No Class
9Mon Mar 103.2 The Rank of a Matrix and Matrix Inverses (H5 Due)
Wed Mar 123.2 The Rank of a Matrix and Matrix Inverses
Fri Mar 143.3 Systems of Linear Equations—Theoretical Aspects
10Mon Mar 173.3 Systems of Linear Equations—Theoretical Aspects
Wed Mar 193.3 Systems of Linear Equations—Theoretical Aspects
Fri Mar 213.4 Systems of Linear Equations—Computational Aspects (H6 Due)
11Mon Mar 243.4 Systems of Linear Equations—Computational Aspects
Wed Mar 263.4 Systems of Linear Equations—Computational Aspects
Fri Mar 28In-Class Exam 3 Covering Chapter 3 (Exam 3 Solutions)
12Mon Mar 314.4 Important Facts about Determinants
Wed Apr 25.1 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
Fri Apr 45.1 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors (H7 Due) (H7 Solutions)
13Mon Apr 75.1 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
Wed Apr 95.2 Diagonalizability (H8 Due) (H8 Solutions)
Fri Apr 115.2 Diagonalizability
14Mon Apr 145.2 Diagonalizability (H9 Due) (H9 Solutions)
Wed Apr 165.2 Diagonalizability
Fri Apr 18In-Class Exam 4 covering Chapters 4 and 5 (Exam 4 Solutions)
15Mon Apr 216.1 Inner Products and Norms
Wed Apr 236.1 Inner Products and Norms (H10 Due) (H10 Solutions)
Fri Apr 256.1 Inner Products and Norms
16Mon Apr 28Comprehensive Final Exam 10:10am - 12:10pm in Morton 326 (Final Exam Information)

Suggested Exercises: The goal of the course is for you to be able to solve the 289 problems on this list.

Textbook
Section
Suggested Exercises
1.11,2,3,4
1.21,3,4,9,12,45,15,20,21,22
1.31,2,3,6,10,11,12,13,15,18,22,24,25,28
1.41,2abc,3abc,5defg,6,7,8,9,10,11,13,16
1.51,2abcdef,4,5,6,9,10,12,14,17,18
1.61,2,3,13,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,23,25,26,29,30
1,3,9,10,11,15,16,17,18,21,22,23,24,26,35,36,38
2.21,2,4,8,9,10
2.31,2,3,5,7,9,11,12,13,15,,16,18
2.41,2,3,4,5,6,9,10,15,16,17,18,20,22,23
2.51,2,4,5,10,11,13
3.11,2,3,4,5,8,9
3.21,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,15,16,19,20
3.31,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11
3.41,2abcdef,3,4,5,6,7,9,12
4.41,2,3,4,5,6
5.11,2abcd,3abc,4abcdefh,5,9,11,12,14,15,16,20,22
5.21,2,3,4,7,8,11,12,14,17,18,19
6.11,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,17,24,26

Homework Sets to Turn In: Homework is due at the start of class on the due date. Late homework is not accepted. (Note that the Due Dates have been revised.)

SetDueExercises
H1Wed Jan 221.1 # 2b, 3b1.2 # 4bdh,9, 12, 15,201.3 # 2d
H2Wed Jan 291.3 # 6, 10, 12, 13, 25, 281.4 # 2b, 3b, 8, 101.5 # 10
H3Fri Feb 142.1 # 3, 11, 15, 17, 21, 22, 242.2 # 2be, 4, 9
H4Fri Feb 212.3 # 5, 9, 11, 12, 132.4 # 4, 9, 10, 16
H5Mon Mar 103.1 # 8, 93.2 # 2bdf
H6Fri Mar 213.2 # 5bdf, 8, 15, 163.3 # 2bf, 3bdf, 4a, 5, 6, 8
H7Fri Apr 4(Link to Homework 7)(H7 Solutions) 
H8Wed Apr 9(Link to Homework 8)(H8 Solutions) 
H9Mon Apr 14(Link to Homework 9)(H9 Solutions) 
H10Wed Apr 23(Link to Homework 10)(H10 Solutions) 


(page maintained by Mark Barsamian, last updated April 11, 2014)