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Math 18 Fall 2020 Syllabus

Course Title:  Linear Algebra

Textbook: Linear Algebra and Its Applications, sixth edition, by David C. Lay; published by Pearson.  Note that the sixth edition of this book is available as an ebook only, and you are automatically granted access to this ebook when you purchase your online homework code.

Homework:  There are three types of assignments in this class: online homework, "exploratory activities", and MATLAB homework.  The online homework will be your main coursework throughout the quarter, and you access it through the "MyLab and Mastering" link on your Canvas course page.  The exploratory activities include watching short videos and completing surveys and are graded for effort and completion rather than correctness; these assignments will be posted on Gradescope.  Finally, the MATLAB assignments are programming exercises that will familiarize you with the MATLAB language as well as illustrate some of the topics of the course. You will also have a short MATLAB quiz during the last week of the quarter. For more details and to access the MATLAB assignments, refer to the Math 18 MATLAB page.

Quizzes/Exams: 

Final Project:  You will submit a five minute video in which you present your solution to a problem.  The problems that you can choose from will be announced no later than 11/28/2020, and the video will be due by 12/16/2020.

Grades: Your cumulative course average will be calculated according to the following formula:

Letter grades will be assigned based on the standard grading scale:

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C-
[93,100] [90,93) [87,90) [83,87) [80,83) [77,80) [73,77) [70,73)

Important Notes:
(1) We may adjust the above scale to be more lenient (depending on the overall class performance), but we guarantee that we will not adjust the scale to make it harder to get a better grade.
(2) In order to receive a passing grade, you must complete the final project and your overall quiz average (after dropping your lowest quiz score) must be at least 60%.  If you do not complete the final project of if your quiz average is below 60%, then you will not pass the class, regardless of your cumulative course average.

Academic Dishonesty:  Academic dishonesty is considered a serious offense at UCSD.  Students caught cheating will face an administrative sanction which may include suspension or expulsion from the university.  It is in your best interest to maintain your integrity. (Click here for more information.)


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