MATH 260 Linear Algebra Summer 2024

Rob Thompson Hunter College
Monday--Thursday 11:40am-1:45pm Room: Hunter West 609
May 28 -July 11, 2024

e-mail: robert.thompson@hunter.cuny.edu
Office: 902 HE Hours: Generally M-Th, 2:00-3:00.

Basic Information About the Course:

In addition to this webpage, there will also be a BlackBoard page for the course, which will be the central repository for handing in homework and takehome exams.

My Office:

My office hours for the summer term will for the most part be M-Th 2:00-3:00 pm. There may be a couple of days when I have to change this, but I will announce that. You don't need to make an appointment for office hours, you can just drop in.

Text:

Linear Algebra, Fifth Editon, Stephen H. Friedberg, Arnold J. Insel, Lawrence E.Spence. NOTE: The official text for the course is the 5th edition - this is what is posted on CUNYFirst. However if you can get the 4th edition that probably costs less, and the content is essentially the same. So if you already have the fourth edition, or you want to buy a fourth edition to save money, that's fine. You can use either one. We may have a small issue with the numbering of the exercises being different between the two editions but I am prepared to deal with that.

Prerequisites:

The student will need to have some familiarity with multivariable calculus and mathematical proofs.

Desired Learning Outcomes:

The student will assimilate the definitions of basic concepts in Linear Algebra such as a Vector space, Linear Transformation, Linear Independence, Basis,rank, dimension, inner product, determinate, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization,linear operators, canonical form (this is not an exhaustive list). The student will learn the statements of a number of fundamental theorems, and will study their proofs. The student will be doing homework problems which will involve some computations as well as proving various facts. The majority of the assessment will consist of written exams similar to the homework problems.

Homework/Exams/Grades:

There will be regularly assigned homework, two midterm exams and one final exam. The exams will count for 80% of your course grade (25%, 25%, and 30%), the homeworkwill count for 20%.

Topics:

This course is an introduction to Linear Algebra, taught at a fairly abstract and conceptual level, with an emphasis on computational procedures, definitions, theorems, and some proofs. The students will be doing proofs and compuations in the homework. Here is a list of topics we will cover, organized by Chapter in the Book.

• Chapter One: Vector Spaces
• Chapter Two: Linear Transformations and Matrices
• Chapter Three: Matrix Operations and Systems of Linear Equations
• Chapter Four: Determinants
• Chapter Five: Diagonalization
• Chapter Six: Inner Product Spaces, the Spectral Theorem

The Homework Assignments

• Assignment One, due :
3.4/2a,b,c,h,i
1.2/1,10,13,19
1.3/8,14,15,18
1.4/3abc,5ae,13
If you don't have the book yet, here is a scan of the problems for this assignment: Assignment One problems.
• Assignment Two, due :
  1.5/1,2ach,7,10,20
  1.6/1,2,5,9,13,17,31
  2.1/1,2,4,5,6,12,14,17,21
• Assignment Three, due :
  2.2/2abcd,5,11
  2.3/2,3,4,12
  2.4/2,3,7,16,17
• Assignment Four, due ,:
  2.5/2,4,6cd,9,10
  3.2/5degh,7,17
  3.3/2bcde
  4.2/5,7,11
  FOURTH EDITION: 5.1/1,3,4ae,5,9
  FIFTH EDITION: 5.1/1,4,5ae,6,10
  5.2/1,2adef,10
  
• Assignment Five, due :
  6.1/1,2,5,10,17
  6.2/2,7,9,11,22a
  6.3/2,3,8
  
• Assignment Six, due :
  6.4/1,2,3c,4,9
  6.5/2,3
  6.6/2,3
  
• Also, I recommend you take a look at Chapter 7.

Instructions for submitting the homework:

The homework must be in the form of PDF file

• Go to the BlackBoard page for this class
• On the left hand side there is a menu, select "Upload HW here"
• Select the Problem Set you are submitting (e.g. Problem Set 1)
• Ignore the item that says "Point Possible"
• Select the"Browse my computer" button
• Find your PDF file which is your homework
• Upload it