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Math 18 Winter 2020
Linear Algebra
Course Syllabus

Course:  Math 18

Title:  Linear Algebra

Credit Hours:  4  (Students may not receive credit for both Math 18 and 31AH.)

Prerequisite:  Math Placement Exam qualifying score, or AP Calculus AB score of 2, or SAT II Math Level 2 score of 600 or higher, or Math 3C, or Math 4C, or Math 10A, or Math 20A, or consent of instructor.

Catalog Description:  Matrix algebra, Gaussian elimination, determinants, Linear and affine subspaces, bases of Euclidean spaces. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, quadratic forms, orthogonal matrices, diagonalization of symmetric matrices. Applications. Computing symbolic and graphical solutions using Matlab.

Textbook: Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 5th edition, by David C. Lay; published by Pearson (Addison Wesley)   This is the textbook available at the UC San Diego bookstore. If you choose to purchase it elsewhere, be aware that you need MyMathLab access, which is included with the bookstore version of the textbook (but not with all versions). Note: you may also forego the physical textbook and just purchase a MyMathLab access code directly from MyMathLab the first time you login (see TritonEd below); this includes access to the ebook version of the textbook.

Subject Material:  We will cover parts of chapters 1-7 of the text.

Lecture:  Attending the lecture is a fundamental part of the course; you are responsible for material presented in the lecture whether or not it is discussed in the textbook.  You should expect questions on the exams that will test your understanding of concepts discussed in the lecture.

Reading:  Reading the sections of the textbook corresponding to the assigned homework exercises is considered part of the homework assignment; you are responsible for material in the assigned reading whether or not it is discussed in the lecture.

TritonEd & MyMathLab:   We will use TritonEd for two purposes in this class: to disseminate grades, and as a portal to MyMathLab, the online homework system associated to the textbook, through which you will submit your homework. In the course page on TritonEd, you can click on Tools and then on MyLab in the right tab. There you will see links to Pearson MyMathLab. The first time you login, you will be prompted to create an account with Pearson, and then enter the access code that came with your textbook (or you may purchase one here). This is a one-time procedure; after that every time you login will give you direct access to MyMathLab. There you will find all currently available homework assignments, along with their listed due dates. You will also have access to the ebook version of the textbook here (for the lifetime of the current edition).

Homework:  Homework is a very important part of the course and in order to fully master the topics it is essential that you work carefully on every assignment and try your best to complete every problem. We will have two different kinds of homework assignments in this class: online homework (which will be graded) and "paper-and-pen" homework (which will not be graded).

MATLAB:   In applications of linear algebra, the theoretical concepts that you will learn in lecture are used together with computers to solve large scale problems.  Thus, in addition to your written homework, you will be required to do homework using the computer language MATLAB.  The Math 18 MATLAB Assignments page contains all information relevant to the MATLAB component of Math 18, including due dates.  You can do the homework on any campus computer that has MATLAB, and you can also make use of UCSD's MATLAB site license to install MATLAB on your own computer by visiting the MATLAB for UCSD Students page.  Questions regarding the MATLAB assignments should be directed to the TAs.  There are also tutors available beginning Thursday or Friday of the first week of classes in B432 of AP&M.  Please upload your MATLAB homework assignments to Gradescope by the due date according to the instructions found on the Math 18 MATLAB Assignments page.; note that late MATLAB homework will not be accepted, but in case you have to miss one MATLAB assignment, your lowest MATLAB homework score will be dropped.  There will be a MATLAB quiz at the end of the quarter.

Instructional Resources and Tutoring:  There are several instructional resources freely available to Mathematics students. Please see the Mathematics Tutoring page for a listing of these resources and make use of them.

Midterm Exams:  There will be two midterm exams given during the quarter.  See the course calendar for the dates and times of the midterm exams.   You may bring one 8.5 by 11 inch handwritten sheet of notes with you to each midterm exam; no other notes (or books) will be allowed.  No calculators will be allowed during the midterm exams.  There will be no makeup exams.

Final Examination:  The final examination will be held at the date and time stated in the course calendar.

Regrade Policy:  Your exams and MATLAB assignments will be graded using Gradescope.  You will be able to request a regrade via Gradescope for a specified window of time.  Be sure to make your request within the specified window of time; no regrade requests will be accepted after the deadline.

Administrative Deadline:  Your scores for all graded work will be posted to TritonEd.

Grading: Your course grade will be determined by your cumulative average at the end of the term and will be based on the following scale:

A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C-
97 93 90 87 83 80 77 73 70
Your cumulative average will be the best of the following two weighted averages: In addition,  you must pass the final examination in order to pass the course.  Note: Since there are no makeup exams, if you miss a midterm exam for any reason then your course grade will be computed with the second option. There are no exceptions; this grading scheme is intended to accommodate emergencies that require missing an exam.

Academic Integrity:  UCSD's code of academic integrity outlines the expected academic honesty of all students and faculty, and details the consequences for academic dishonesty. The main issues are cheating and plagiarism, of course, for which we have a zero-tolerance policy. (Penalties for these offenses usually include assignment of a failing grade in the course, and can be much more significant.) However, academic integrity also includes things like giving credit where credit is due (listing your collaborators on homework assignments, noting books or papers containing information you used in solutions, etc.), and treating your peers respectfully in class. In addition, here are a few of our expectations for etiquette in and out of class.


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