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Math 2135-002: Linear Algebra for Math Majors, Spring 2021


Syllabus


COVID-19:  Protect Our Herd
This course will be taught remotely and synchronously on Zoom. You will need an internet-capable device with a working camera and microphone to attend this course.

Catalogue description: 
From the catalogue: Examines basic properties of systems of linear equations, vector spaces, inner products, linear independence, dimension, linear transformations, matrices, determinants, eigenvalues, eigenvectors and diagonalization.

Requisites: Requires (MATH 2300 or APPM 1360) and (MATH 2001 or MATH 2002). (All with minimum grade C-).

Equivalent: Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MATH 2130 or APPM 3310

Text: 
Linear Algebra, 4th ed., by Jim Hefferon.

You have free access to this text from this page.

Homework, Quizzes and Exams: 
During the semester there will be regularly assigned homework and quizzes, one midterm and a final exam. Your course grade will be computed according to the formula:

Grade = HW(30%) + Quiz(20%) + Mid(20%) + Final(30%).

You must take the final exam to pass the course.

Homework should be typed and submitted in pdf form. (There is a Latex homework template on the course HW page.)

Late homework will not be accepted and missed quizzes cannot be made up. However, I will not count your two lowest homework scores nor your two lowest quiz scores. So, try to do all the HW and quizzes, and if for some reason you find you are unable to meet a deadline for HW/quiz consider that week as one where your HW/quiz will not be counted.

Exams will use Proctorio: 
We will be using the Proctorio Online Exam Proctoring Service in this course. Proctorio is a software extension in Chrome that uses your computer's screen, web cam, and microphone to create a remote proctored environment, and enables you to take exams via Canvas in the location of your choice. You must have a strong and stable internet connection for Proctorio to work well. During the exam, you, your computer, your BuffOne Card, and the environment you are taking the exam in may all be recorded. For information about Proctorio's privacy policies, please visit OIT's Proctorio Privacy page. In addition to the instructor(s) and Teaching Assistants(s) of this course, Proctorio and CU Boulder's Proctorio administrators are the only ones who will have access to the recordings. The Chrome browser extension must be installed before you can take the exam, and you can remove it once the exam is complete. There are limitations in Proctorio's accessibility for those who use screen readers and keyboard navigation. Also, you must be over the age of 18 to consent to use Proctorio. If you have concerns about your ability to use or consent to use Proctorio, please contact me well ahead of the exam to discuss alternate arrangements.

Grading: 
You will be graded only on your written work. This work will be judged on the basis of correctness, completeness and legibility. Strings of formulas without explanation will not be accepted. Paragraph organization (where appropriate), complete sentences and correct punctuation are expected.

Spring pause: 
(The following advice, which we will follow, is copied from an email from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.)
The week of March 22-26 will be used in this class as a ``spring pause'' to provide us all with a safe and supportive way to promote health, wellness and learning without leaving campus. During this week, we won't have any exams or assignments due. We will still have class with interactive class activities that will require your attendance and be part of your final course grade. Attendance is still required for all class sessions that week, except for the campus-wide wellness day on Thursday, March 25. I wish we could take a regular spring break, but public-health concerns prevent us from doing so. I would like to emphasize that it is still important for you all to behave responsibly. Do not use the week to travel or engage in risky behavior that could result in an outbreak on campus.

The Office the Provost adds this:
The provost has granted to the deans of each college and school the option of making available a ``spring pause'', a week-long relaxation on exams and graded course work in March in lieu of spring break. Faculty in these schools and colleges are not required to follow this option in their courses, but they may choose to do so.

In any course employing the ``spring pause'', classes must be held that week (with the exception of the wellness day on March 25), vital content should be shared in those classes, and students will be accountable for attendance in class and for all material covered.

Dates: 
Homework: Usually due Wed
Quiz: Usually on Monday
MLK, Jr Day: Jan 18 (Monday)
Wellness Day 1: Feb 17 (Wednesday)
Midterm: Feb 26 (Friday)
Spring pause: March 22-26 (Monday-Friday)
Wellness Day 2: March 25 (Thursday)
Last Day: Apr 29 (Thursday)
Final Exam: May 3, 1:30-4pm (Monday)

Getting Help: 
Don't wait until it is too late if you need help. Ask questions! I am available during the office hours listed here and also at many other times. If you can't see me during office hours, then make an appointment with me to see me at a different time. I will also give short answers to questions sent by email. One can get help for some lower division math courses in the Math Academic Resource Center, and it might happen that someone there can answer your Math 2135 questions.

WWW: 
Information concerning our class will be posted on my teaching web page under the link for Teaching. A copy of any document I hand out in class will be accessible from this page.