Course Syllabus

Course Description

From the ORC:

This course presents the fundamental concepts and applications of linear algebra with emphasis on Euclidean space. Significant goals of the course are that the student develop the ability to perform meaningful computations and to write accurate proofs. Topics include bases, subspaces, dimension, determinants, characteristic polynomials, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and especially matrix representations of linear transformations and change of basis. Applications may be drawn from areas such as optimization, statistics, biology, physics, and signal processing. Students who plan to take either MATH 63 or MATH 71 are strongly encouraged to take MATH 24.

 

Textbook

Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Fifth edition by David C. Lay, Steven R. Lay, and Judi J. McDonald (ISBN: 978-0321982384).

 

Instructors

Zachary Winkeler (he/him/his)
241 Kemeny Hall
zachary.j.winkeler.gr@dartmouth.edu

Zili Wang
316 Kemeny Hall
zili.wang@dartmouth.edu

 

Lectures and Class Time

Section 1 (Winkeler)
105 Kemeny Hall
(12) MWF 12:50-1:55
(12X) T 1:20-2:10

Section 2 (Wang)
105 Kemeny Hall
(2) MWF 2:10-3:15
(2X) Th 1:20-2:10

 

Office Hours

Office hours are specific times that we set aside for you to be able to show up to our offices and talk to us; no appointment is necessary. Office hours will be held at the following times:

Winkeler:
Monday 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday 10:00am - 11:00am
Friday 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Wang:
Tuesday 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Thursday 1:30pm - 3:00pm

These times may change once we get a better understanding of everybody's availability. If you need to meet with me but can't make any of the office hours, please email me to schedule an appointment.

 

Tutorials

There will be tutorial sessions every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday night from 7-9pm in Kemeny 105. These will be run by our TA, Ben Logsdon. Tutorials are a great place for you to work alone or with others in the class, and ask questions if you don't understand something.

 

WeBWorK

We will have weekly WeBWorK assignments. These will be assigned on Monday and due by 5:00pm the following Monday. The purpose of WeBWorK is to give you the ability to practice new concepts; therefore, you will have unlimited attempts at solving these. Trying the same problem multiple times will not reduce your grade. The important part is that you solve it eventually. WeBWorK can be found on Canvas, under the "Assignments" tab. In order for your work to be successfully submitted, you must use Canvas to open WeBWorK assignments (i.e. don't just go to the WeBWorK website!).

 

Homework

We will have weekly homework. Usually, homework will be assigned on Friday and due by 5:00pm the following Friday. Homework problem grades will be based not only on the correctness of your answers, but also the work that you show to solve them. Unexcused late homework will be accepted for 50% credit up to one week past the original due date. All homework assignments will be collected via Gradescope at www.gradescope.com/courses/308759.

 

Exams

We will have two midterm exams and one final exam. Our tentative plans are for these to be in-person exams, but this is likely to change as the term progresses. Our midterms are scheduled for Thursdays, October 7th and October 28th from 4:30pm - 6:30 pm at Visual Arts Center 104 Loew Auditorium. Our final exam is scheduled for Friday, November 19th from 11:30am - 2:30pm.

 

Grades

The course grade will be based upon the scores on the homework, midterm exams, and final exam as follows:

    Homework: 25%
    WeBWorK: 10%
    Midterm 1: 20%
    Midterm 2: 20%
    Final: 25%

We will use the usual grading scale below:
    A: 94-100
    A-: 90-93
    B+: 87-89
    B: 84-86
    B-: 80-83
    C+: 77-79
    C: 74-76
    C-: 70-73
    D: 60-69
    E: 0-59

These are the minimum guaranteed final grades, but we reserve the right to grade more generously, i.e. an 89 is always at least a B+, but may turn out to be an A-.

 

The Honor Principle

Academic integrity is at the core of our mission as mathematicians and educators, and we take it very seriously. We also believe in working and learning together. For more information, see Dartmouth's Academic Honor Principle and Community Standards.

Collaboration on homework is permitted and encouraged, but obviously it is a violation of the honor code for someone to provide the answers for you. If you are part of a group of students that produces an answer to a problem, you cannot then copy that group answer. You must write up the answer individually, in your own words.

On exams, you may not give or receive help from anyone.

Specifically, posting or looking up homework or exam questions online is a violation of the honor code.

If you have any questions about what is and isn't allowed by the Honor Principle as it applies to this class, please ask us first.

 

COVID-19 Information

Attendance

You are expected to attend class in person unless you have made alternative arrangements due to illness, medical reasons, or the need to isolate due to COVID-19.  For the health and safety of our class community, please: do not attend class when you are sick, nor when you have been instructed by Student Health Services to stay home.

Safety

In accordance with current College policy, all members of the Dartmouth community are required to wear a suitable face covering when indoors, regardless of vaccination status. This includes our classroom and other course-related locations, such as labs, studios, and office hours.  If you need to take a quick drink during class, please dip your mask briefly for each sip. Eating is never permitted in the classroom. (The only exception to the mask requirement is for students with an approved disability-related accommodation; see below.)  If you do not have an accommodation and refuse to comply with masking or other safety protocols, I am obligated to assure that the Covid health and safety standards are followed, and you will be asked to leave the classroom. You remain subject to course attendance policies, and dismissal from class will result in an unexcused absence.  If you refuse to comply with masking or other safety protocols, and to ensure the health and safety of our community, I am obligated to report you to the Dean’s office for disciplinary action under Dartmouth’s Standards of Conduct. Additional COVID-19 protocols may emerge. Pay attention to emails from the senior administrators at the College.

I will communicate any changes and their resulting implications for our class community.

Recordings

While this course is currently planned to be in-person, and we will not be recording the class at the start, we may have to make alternate arrangements as the term progresses. Therefore, in the case that we do end up needing to record classes, we want to make you aware of this.

• Consent to recording of course meetings and office hours that are open to multiple students.
  By enrolling in this course,
  • I affirm my understanding that the instructor may record meetings of this course and any associated meetings open to multiple students and the instructor, including but not limited to scheduled and ad hoc office hours and other consultations, within any digital platform, including those used to offer remote instruction for this course.
  • I further affirm that the instructor owns the copyright to their instructional materials, of which these recordings constitute a part, and my distribution of any of these recordings in whole or in part to any person or entity other than other members of the class without prior written consent of the instructor may be subject to discipline by Dartmouth up to and including separation from Dartmouth.
• Requirement of consent to one-on-one recordings
  By enrolling in this course,
  • I hereby affirm that I will not make a recording in any medium of any one-on-one meeting with the instructor or another member of the class or group of members of the class without obtaining the prior written consent of all those participating, and I understand that if I violate this prohibition, I will be subject to discipline by Dartmouth up to and including separation from Dartmouth, as well as any other civil or criminal penalties under applicable law. I understand that an exception to this consent applies to accommodations approved by SAS for a student's disability, and that one or more students in a class may record class lectures, discussions, lab sessions, and review sessions and take pictures of essential information, and/or be provided class notes for personal study use only.

If you have questions, please contact the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Special Considerations

Accommodations

Students requesting disability-related accommodations and services for this course are required to register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS; Getting Started with SAS webpage;student.accessibility.services@dartmouth.edu; 1-603-646-9900) and to request that an accommodation email be sent to me in advance of the need for an accommodation. Then, students should schedule a follow-up meeting with me to determine relevant details such as what role SAS or its Testing Center may play in accommodation implementation. This process works best for everyone when completed as early in the quarter as possible. If students have questions about whether they are eligible for accommodations or have concerns about the implementation of their accommodations, they should contact the SAS office. All inquiries and discussions will remain confidential.

Religious Observances

Some students may wish to take part in religious observances that occur during this academic term. If you have a religious observance that conflicts with your participation in the course, please meet with me before the end of the second week of the term to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Mental Health and Wellness

The academic environment at Dartmouth is challenging, our terms are intensive, and classes are not the only demanding part of your life. There are a number of resources available to you on campus to support your wellness, including your undergraduate dean, Counseling and Human Development, and the Student Wellness Center. I encourage you to use these resources to take care of yourself throughout the term, and to come speak to me if you experience any difficulties.

Title IX

At Dartmouth, we value integrity, responsibility, and respect for the rights and interests of others, all central to our Principles of Community. We are dedicated to establishing and maintaining a safe and inclusive campus where all have equal access to the educational and employment opportunities Dartmouth offers. We strive to promote an environment of sexual respect, safety, and well-being. In its policies and standards, Dartmouth demonstrates unequivocally that sexual assault, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are not tolerated in our community. 

The Sexual Respect Website at Dartmouth provides a wealth of information on your rights with regard to sexual respect and resources that are available to all in our community. 

Please note that, as a faculty member, I am obligated to share disclosures regarding conduct under Title IX with Dartmouth's Title IX Coordinator. Confidential resources are also available, and include licensed medical or counseling professionals (e.g., a licensed psychologist), staff members of organizations recognized as rape crisis centers under state law (such as WISE), and ordained clergy (https://dartgo.org/titleix_resources).

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dartmouth's Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the Guarini School. Their contact information can be found on the sexual respect website.

Financial Difficulty

If you encounter financial challenges related to this class, please let me know.