Linear Algebra

Spring 2012

Syllabus

Mathematics MA1055/1058

Instructor

Benjamin McKay
b.mckay{@fake.org)ucc.ie
School of Mathematical Sciences
University College Cork
Cork, Ireland

Telephone353 21 420 5838
Fax353 21 427 0813
Secretary353 21 490 2542

Students with disabilities

University College Cork seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accomodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the instructor and to the college to make arrangements for accomodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification.

What you know already

You should already have studied the linear and quadratic equation and complex numbers in secondary school.

Course objectives

By the end of this course, you should be able to compute solutions to linear equations, and find the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of matrices, and understand the significance of eigenvectors and eigenvalues, rank, image and kernel of a matrix.

Lecture notes

http://euclid.ucc.ie/pages/staff/Mckay/linear-algebra/fall-2009/MS2003/LinearAlgebra.pdf

Equipment

We will use no computers or calculators. Neither notes nor tapes of lectures may be permitted for purposes of sale.

Marking

80% will come from the final exam and 10% each from two tests. Tests and exams are to be completed independently by each student; only original work of the student whose name is on the assignment may be submitted for marking. Any missed test or final exam can not be rescheduled. Attendance will not count toward the final mark, although the instructor reserves the right to refuse admission to the final exam or to refuse to mark the exam of any student who (in the instructor's opinion) was frequently absent, or performed poorly on the tests.

Tests will be held on Monday, February 6 and Friday, March 30.

Lectures

Office hours

I will be in my office, Western Gateway room G-39, Fridays 9:30am-11:30am, and you can drop by then to ask questions. The schedule may be changed; if so you will be notified in class.

Holidays

Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide advance notice of the dates to the instructor in writing.

Old exams and tests

Exams and tests not collected by students will be kept by the instructor for a period of three months after the termination of the course, at which time they will be destroyed.