Math 3406 L Spring 2020 Course Information
A second course in Linear Algebra

• Lectures are MWF 10:10-11am EST at https://bluejeans.com/759522352. Meeting ID: 759 522 352. Alternatively, you can go to the BlueJeans tab in Canvas and join there. The lectures are recorded, and the recordings are placed in the BlueJeans tab in Canvas.


• Here is how to connect to BlueJeans from your device.


• BlueJeans office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:30-2:20pm at https://bluejeans.com/302958072. Meeting ID: 302 958 072. Office hours are not recorded. It is also possible to set up indvidivial office hours appointments at other times via the same link. Also please make use of Piazza.


• We shall continue to closely follow the notes (in Canvas).


• Midterm 2 will be distributed via in Canvas and via email on Wednesday, April 1st. It will be due on Wednesday April 8 at 10:10am EST. You will submit it by uploading in pdf (in the same way as you will upload homework 9, namely, click on midterm 2 in assignments and upload the file on the right side of the page). Test rules are as follows. Open book and open notes, any online searches are allowed, no human help of any kind is allowed, and in particular, no other students can be consulted (remember the honor code), you can ask the instructor to clarify questions (if needed) via email.


• The final will be 3 hour long (170 minutes of resular time plus 10 extra minutes for scanning and uploadings). Students who are allowed extra time by the ODS, will be given extra time.


• Tentatively, the final will have twice as many problems as Midterm 1, and hence should be doable in 100 minutes. It will be subject to the same rules as Midterm 2, that is, "open book and open notes; any online searches are allowed; no human help of any kind is allowed, and in particular, no other students can be consulted". You can ask the instructor to clarify questions (if needed).


• The final will be released twice, that is, it can be taken on Tuesday, April 28, 8-11pm EST, or on Wednesday, April 29, 8-11am EST.


• By 5pm EST of April 25 you will need to tell me which version you will take. You can choose either one. Students who take the April 28 final may not disclose its content before 11am EST on April 29.


• Netiquette: In all communication in this online course, you will need to follow the same rules of behavior as you would in a face-to-face course when communicating with the other students and the instructor. In particular, negative personal comments are strictly prohibited, and you need to turn off your microphone and web cam when appropriate. On the other hand, the instructor welcomes feedback via email or Piazza.

• Instructor: Igor Belegradek
• tentative office hours in Skiles 240B: M 9:05-9:55am, F 9:05-9:55am, or by appointment (to be made via email).
• Email: ib at math dot gatech dot edu
  This is the best way to contact me. Please include 3406 in the subject header. Please email me from the Georgia Tech address: this would ensure your message won't end up in the spam folder, and besides, I shall not discuss more private matters, such as grades, to someone with non Georgia Tech email address.
• Course homepage is on Canvas.
• Lectures: MWF 10:10-11am in Skiles 254.

Prerequisites: MATH 1553 or MATH 1554 or MATH 1564 or MATH 1502 or MATH 1512 or MATH 1522.

Textbooks: There is no required text. Notes will be provided by the instructor in Canvas. Other (optional) sources include

• Linear Algebra and its applications by David C. Lay will serve as basic reference.
• Foundations of matrix computations by David Watkins, a modern numerical linear algebra text.
• Linear Algebra done right by Sheldon Axler, a modern abstract, and yet slick and gentle presentation of linear algebra.

Content and Course Objectives:

• Linear Algebra concepts and methods are fundamental in many problems of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics. The main objective of the course is to develop higher-level understanding of linear algebra. Along the way we will study some important topics not usually discussed in a first-semester linear algebra course, featuring a mixture of theory (the structure of normal matrices, Jordan form, Cayley-Hamilton theorem) and applications (linear differential and difference equations, matrix norms, condition numbers, SVD, QR, and polar decompositions).
• The course will start from a brief high-level review of Chapters 1 – 6 of Lay's Linear Algebra text (which covers linear systems, basis, span, linear independence, linear maps, matrix operations, determinants, orthogonality, projections, least squares, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and vector spaces); a firm grip on this material is essential and expected.
• Even though training students to write and understand proofs (that is, mathematically convincing arguments) isn't the primary objective in this course there will be a fair amount of proofs in lecture, homework and tests.
• We will occasionally discuss computational issues, and every homework will include a MATLAB problem.

Grading:

• Homework is worth 40% of the final grade, two midterms are 15% each, the cumulative final is 30%. No test or homework score will be dropped.
• Grading scale: A=85%, B=70%, C=55%, D=45%.
• All grades will be recorded in Canvas.
• Grades will not be "curved", that is, performance of your fellow students will have no affect on your grades. There is no set quota for the number of A's, B's etc, in particular, it is possible in theory that everybody will get an A.

MATLAB: Some homework problems will use basic MATLAB commands which can be found here. No MATLAB programming will be required. The different ways to run MATLAB at Georgia Tech are described here. In particular, there is no need to install it; rather you can run it in a browser after creating a MathWorks account with your GT email. A quick and dirty computation can be even done in the command line: for example, in Unix terminal on School of Math computer you can run MATLAB by typing "matlab -nodesktop -nojvm" and exit by typing "exit" without quotation marks but this will show no pictures.

Homework:

• Homework will be assigned weakly and distributed via email. It will be collected in class every Wednesday.
• No late homework will be accepted unless in emergency or by prior arrangement.
• Working on homework in groups is encouraged.
• If you are stuck on homework, you are welcome to ask the intructor for hints.
• Any outside help must be acknowledged in writing, e.g., if you find a solution online or somebody shows you the solution, you need to mention the fact in the submitted solutions.

Tests (all in Skiles 254):

• There will be two midterms on February 21st (Friday) and April 10th (Friday).
• The cumulative Final is on Wednesday, April 29, 8:00-10:50am.
• Doing homework, digesting past homework solutions, and asking lots of questions is the best way to prepare for tests.
• All tests are closed-book and closed-notes. A one-page (two-sided if needed) "help sheet" will be allowed on midterms; you may write/type anything there. A three-page "help sheet" (again, two-sided) is allowed on the final.
• No electronics (such as calculators, computers, mobile devices, headphones) are allowed on tests.
• There will be no makeup tests. If your reason for missing a test seems valid to me, then the corresponding part of the final will be given a higher weight; to arrange for that you must contact me as soon as possible. With rare exceptions acceptable reasons for missing a test are limited to illness, court appearance, and taking part in Georgia Tech events.

Piazza link is on Canvas.

Random thoughts on how to do well in this course:

• Do all homework! Make sure you eventually know the correct solutions.
• Attend lectures and take notes, or at least read instructor's notes.
• Ask questions in class or via email.
• When stuck on homework, ask for hints during the office hours.

If you encounter cheating, please promptly report it to the instructor. See the Georgia Tech Honor Code for your rights and obligations.

• What constitutes cheating on a test? Examples are use of unauthorized materials, use of electronic devices, and getting outside help including talking, and looking in other students' papers.
• What constitutes cheating on homework? Not acknowledging outside help, be that from a person or an online resource.

How to get help: any concerns should be promptly discussed with the instructor. All feedback on teaching and administrative issues is appreciated.