Math 346 Linear Algebra
Syllabus
Textbook
Linear Algebra with Application by Otto Bretscher, 5th Edition Pearson. I suggest each student purchase his/her own hard copy of our linear algebra textbook. You will be reading it over and over and it is easier to get to know a hard copy. You can even buy an older edition (3rd or 4th) of the textbook online for cheaper and then go to the library to make sure you are doing the correct suggested hw problems. I will put copies on hold in the Marshak science library.
Here is some good advice: Read assigned sections from our textbook before class. Learning how to read a math textbook will be helpful in this course as well as in all your future math courses. Read the section we will cover in class before coming to class. You will not fully understand the topic after a first reading. Do not worry. You will pick up enough of the idea to make your time in class more productive. After class you will then most likely need to reread the section multiple times to become comfortable with the material. Here is a skip list of what you can skip while reading the assigned sections from our syllabus above. If a section from the syllabus is not on the skip list you should read that entire section.
Exercise Sets
The best way to learn the material is to consistently do many suggested textbook exercises. It is better to spend a couple hours every day doing linear algebra problems rather than spending the weekend before the exam cramming for eight hours a day. Consider the final exam like running a marathon and the problems as your training sessions. If you consistently do problems (train) then you will be well-prepared for the final exam. However if you have long gaps between working on problems you will always have difficulty getting back into the math mindset necessary to complete the problems. The first day of training is always the most painful.
Topic Summaries, Videos, Practice Problems
Topic Summaries, Videos, Practice Problems
Getting Help
Final piece of good advice: Form study groups and go to office hours or tutoring when you inevitably get stuck. I will be available for 30 minutes after each class for office hours. A quick conversation with me or with a group of students after class sometimes clears up a confusing point. Do not spend more than a day or two being stuck on a problem or try to master a concept from class or our textbook. There is not enough time in the semester to remain stuck and not practicing. Ask for help instead. If you cannot make office hours there is free CCNY tutoring
Grading Factors
HW Average: 10% of course grade.
Quiz Average: 10% of course grade.
Midterm Exam 1: 20% of course grade.
Midterm Exam 2: 20% of course grade.
Final exam 40% of course grade
However, at the end of the course if your final exam average is superior to your quiz average, your midterm 1 grade, or your midterm 2 grade, then you can use your final exam grade to replace all lower average(s). For instance, if your quiz average is 85, midterm 1 grade 70, midterm 2 grade 77, and final exam grade 81 then your course grade will be computed as 20% * 85 + 80% * 81 = 81.8 course grade. Even if you miss multiple quizzes and both midterms but do well on your final exam, you will then use your final exam grade as your full course grade. One way to think of these grading factors is that your performance on quizzes and midterms cannot hurt your final grade, as compared to your final exam grade. Your performance on the quizzes and midterms can only help your grade in comparison to your final exam score.
If possible, you should take all the quizzes and midterms because the quizzes and midterms will help you prepare for the final exam. With these grading factors you will be less stressed taking quizzes and midterms knowing that you can replace a bad score with your final exam score. Moreover, if you feel ill, test positive for covid, are a close contact, or must assist a sick family member or friend, you can skip any assessment, except the final. You must take the final. If you are sick for the final, do not come to campus. There will be a make-up. There will be no other make-ups. Please remain off campus when you are feeling unwell.
Quiz and exam questions will be similar to the assigned textbook homework questions, exact replicas sometimes. You should attempt all the assigned homework problems to learn the material and prepare for quizzes and exams. If you have done all assigned hw problems, there should be no surprises on quizzes and exams.
Sample Exams
All quiz and exam questions will be modeled on the suggested textbook exercises, sometimes the quiz and exam questions are identical to suggested textbook exercises. If you've worked through a wide portion the suggested textbook exercises, there should be no surprises on exams.
Sample Quizzes. 10 sample weekly quizzes.
Sample Exam 1. Questions from exam 1 are picked from section 1.1 up to and including 3.3 on our syllabus.
Sample Exam 1A. Another sample exam 1.
Sample Exam 2. Questions from exam 2 are picked from section 3.4 up to and including 6.3 on our syllabus.
Sample Exam 2A. Another sample exam 2
Sample Final Exam A. Questions from the final exam are picked from all sections on our syllabus.
Sample Final Exam B. Another sample final
Sample Final Exam C. Still another sample final.
