Syllabus (tentative)

MATH 6330 Linear Algebra

Fall 2017

Instructor: Dr. Karen Yagdjian

Office: MAGC 3.726
Phone: 665-2145; E-mail: [email protected]

Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 3:05 pm 4:05 pm or by appointment

Meeting time and Monday, Wednesday - 5:55 pm - 7:10 pm, EDUCATION COMPLEX 1.404
place (Edinburg), SABAL HALL #96 2.204 (Brownsville)

Textbook (free) A Second Semester of Linear Algebra, by Stanley E. Payne

Course Description Topics include the proof-based theory of matrices, determinants, vector spaces,
linear spaces, linear transformations and their matrix representations, linear systems,
linear operators, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, invariant subspaces of operators,
spectral decompositions, functions of operators, and applications to science,
industry, and business.

Prerequisite MATH 3345, Applied Linear Algebra

Software: The class is a combination of proof-based theory and applications to science, industry,
and business. Mathematical software (Mathematica, Matlab, Octave, or Scilab) will be
needed for several assignments.

Homework/Projects: Online homework projects will be assigned regularly through Blackboard and
http://webwork.utpa.edu with deadlines specified. Late homework will not be accepted.
Makeup homework can be obtained for 50% of the original credit.

Quizzes: The quizzes are based on the homework problems

Examinations: There will be two inclass exams and a comprehensive final exam. All students are
expected to take the examinations at the announced time. On all problems, you must
show your work. Write clearly and show all your work; a correct answer alone
may not receive any credit.

Final Exam: The comprehensive common final exam is on (day and room will be announced later)

Grading policy Two inclass exams: 40% (20% each)

Project 10 %
Homework: 30%
Comprehensive final: 20%

Calculators: The use of graphing/programmable calculators or computers is recommended but not

required. On some tests graphing/programmable calculators will be prohibited.

Grade Distribution: 90-100% : A 70-79% : C

80-89% : B 0-69%: F
Tutoring: There are all kinds of math tutoring available on campus. Math Lab I, II
(MAGC 1.106, MAGC 1.308) .and the Math Learning Center in the LEAC Building
room 114.

Attendance Attendance is mandatory. You are required to come to all class-meetings; please
come on time. Please turn off your cell-phones during the class. Students are expected
to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for excessive
absences. UTRGVs attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they
are participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics; for
observance of religious holy days; or for military service. Students should contact the
instructor in advance of the excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or
examinations.

STUDENTS WITH Students with a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other
DISABILITIES disability which affects academic performance) who would like to receive academic
accommodations should contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as soon as
possible to schedule an appointment to initiate services. Accommodations can be
arranged through SAS at any time, but are not retroactive. Students who suffer a
broken bone, severe injury or undergo surgery during the semester are eligible for
temporary services. Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in
Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via
email at [email protected]. Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is
located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at (956) 665-7005
(Voice), (956) 665-3840 (Fax), or via email at [email protected].

Drop Policy According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a
grade of DR until the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned
a letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class
should be aware of the 3-peat rule and the 6-drop rule so they can recognize how
dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law
that dictates that undergraduate students may not drop more than six courses during
their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher education
institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to
additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third time.

Makeup Policy In case of illness and in rare cases of other conflicts, students with documented excuses
may request to take a makeup exam after scheduled exam. In all cases, makeup must
be requested before the regularly scheduled exam.

MANDATORY Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed
COURSE through your UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through
EVALUATION email with further instructions. Students who complete their evaluations will have
PERIOD: priority access to their grades. Online evaluations will be available:
Nov. 15 Dec. 6

Electronic The electronic communication between the instructor and students must conducted
Communication Policy: through the official University supplied systems. Therefore, please use your UTRGV
assigned account for all future correspondence with UTRGV faculty and staff.
 Scholastic Integrity As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are
reminded that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the
University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism
(including self-plagiarism), and collusion; submission for credit of any work or
materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an
examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student;
or the attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual,
all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be
strictly enforced (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic
Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean
of Students.

SEXUAL In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a Responsible

HARASSMENT, Employee for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any
DISCRIMINATION, instance, occurring during a students time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating
and VIOLENCE: violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware
during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More
information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential resources
available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a
learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility,
and mutual respect that is free from sexual misconduct and discrimination.

Calendar of Activities Some important dates for Fall 2017 include:

August 28 First day of classes
August 31 Last day to add a course or register for fall 2017
September 4 Labor Day NO classes
November 15 Last day to drop a course; will count toward the
6-drop rule
November 23 26 Thanksgiving Holiday NO classes
December 6 Last day of classes
December 7 Study Day NO class
December 8 -14 Fall 2017 Final Exams
December 15-16 Commencement Ceremonies

Core Objectives

Students finishing a core curriculum course will be able to demonstrate the following objectives:

CRITICAL THINKING (CT) is a habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of

issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion. This
definition meets the THECBs direction that critical thinking includes creative thinking, innovation,
inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information; and is aligned with the UTRGVs SLO for
critical thinking skills.

Students will learn to approach symbolic, geometric and arithmetic problems form an abstract perspective
using multiple representations of problems geometric and algebraic; quantitative and
qualitative. Furthermore, a significant portion of the course will focus students on the application of
mathematical concepts to aid in critical analysis of a variety of problems from other subjects and areas.

Student learning objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4 align with this core objective. They will be assessed through
specific questions on the tests used in the course or by a special assignment.
 COMMUNICATION SKILLS (COM) include the development, expression, and revision of ideas
through the effective use of language (writing, reading, speaking, and listening) across a variety of
forums. Communication involves learning to work in many genres and styles while using different
technologies, can result in mixing texts, data, and/or images, and develops through diverse experiences
across the curriculum. This definition meets the THECBs direction that communication skills include
effective written, oral, and visual communication; and is aligned with UTRGVs SLO for communication
skills.

A strong focus of this course is to develop in students the ability to discuss mathematical ideas with
fluency to both experts in mathematics and those with less experience. For many problems the process
of the solution is as or more important than the solution itself, making communication a natural skill
developed by the course.

Student assessments (both summative and formative) used for student learning objectives 1, 2, 3, and 5
will address the development of students communications skills in the course. Communication skills
will be assessed, for example through oral presentations/demonstrations, or pre-recorded video
demonstrations or a special assignment.

EMPIRICAL AND QUANTITATIVE SKILLS (EQS), which involve numeracy or quantitative

reasoning, include competency in working with numerical data and mathematical reasoning. Individuals
with strong mathematical skills possess the ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide
array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations. They interpret data and results and can create
conjectures and arguments supported by quantitative evidence and/or mathematical reasoning, which they
can clearly communicate in a variety of formats (using words, tables, graphs, and/or equations as
appropriate). This definition meets the THECBs direction that empirical and quantitative skills include
applications of scientific and mathematical concepts; and is aligned with UTRGVs SLO for empirical
and quantitative skills.

The course centers on the empirical and quantitative skills objective, which permeates almost every topic
included in the course and course objectives. These will be assessed through specific questions on the
tests used in the course or by a special assignment

Course Student Learning Outcomes: After completing this course students will
1. Develop analytical skills to prove propositions, theorems of linear algebra, i.e., understand what
constitutes a valid proof of results in linear algebra and learn how to create such proofs;
2. Understand the definitions, properties, and examples of vector spaces, subspaces, and their sums
and direct sums;
3. Know the theory of linear maps, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, characteristic polynomials;
4. Understand inner-product spaces, norms, orthonormal bases, operators on inner-product spaces;
5. Learn spectral theory, singular value decomposition and applications of linear algebra;
6. Develop skills to use linear algebra in other related mathematical fields.
Educational Objectives for the Master of Science in mathematics program:

to provide the applied mathematics content needed for a student to pursue a career in professional
areas requiring advanced applied mathematics;
to prepare students for advanced graduate study in applied mathematics.

NOTE: The syllabus is subject to change.