Department of Mathematical Sciences,
Northern Illinois University
LINEAR ALGEBRA AND APPLICATIONS (4) Matrix algebra and solutions of systems of linear equations, matrix inversion, determinants. Vector spaces, linear dependence, basis and dimension, subspaces. Inner products, Gram-Schmidt process. Linear transformations, matrices of a linear transformation. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Applications. Constructing and writing mathematical proofs. A transition between beginning calculus courses and upper-level mathematics courses. PRQ: MATH 232
TEXT: Bernard Kolman and David R.Hill, Elementary Linear Algebra, 9th Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2004.
SYLLABUS: The course will cover most of Chapters 1-7 of the text.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will develop computational skills in working with linear transformations and the matrices used to represent them. However, more of the course will focus on non-computational issues such as reasoning and constructing proofs. This course is intended as a transition between the beginning calculus courses and upper level courses in mathematics.
GRADING: Grades will be assigned on the basis of 600 points, as follows:
Your professor will provide more specific information about grading policies and exam dates for your section.
The final exam will be a comprehensive, departmental examination. It is scheduled as a mass exam, on Wednesday, December 10, 8-9:50 PM. All sections of this course will take the same final exam at the same time. The location of the final will be announced in class near the end of the semester.
WITHDRAWAL: The last day for undergraduates to withdraw from a full-session course is Friday, October 17, 2008.
CALCULATORS: This course is not focused on numerical computation. Students may wish to use calculators or computers as a study aid, but no electronic devices of any kind will be allowed on exams.
CAAR STATEMENT: Students who request accommodation due to a physical or learning disability must contact their instructor at the beginning of the semester. The instructor has the right to see documentation of the student's condition from the CAAR office.