MAT 1341, Section F (Fall 2015)

Introduction to Linear Algebra

Professor: Charles Starling

Office: 585 King Edward, Room 311 Phone: 562-5800, Extension 3538.
Email: cstar050@uottawa.ca.

Course Webpage: http://mysite.science.uottawa.ca/cstar050/mat1341F2015

Prerequisite: Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), MAT1339, or an equivalent. You must

have one of these to be enrolled.

Lectures: Tuesdays 1:00-2:30, Thursdays 11:30-1:00, in MCD 146.

Office Hours: To be determined. Please email me a copy of your course schedule by

Sunday noon, 13-September, if you wish your availability to be taken into account.

Text and approximate course content: Text: “Vector Spaces First”, by Thierry Gior-
dano, Barry Jessup and Monica Nevins. (This e-book, with exercises and partial solutions,
is available online through Blackboard.)

Approximate course content: Chapters 1-19 and 21-24. Please note that the material
in chapters 2 and 3 is merely review and, together with chapter 1, will be the subject of
the first (Diagnostic) test.

Optional Text: “Linear Algebra with Applications MAT1341” by Keith Nicholson (Cus-
tom publication for the University of Ottawa, McGraw Hill Custom Publishing): Appendix
A, 4.1–4.3 (review); Thm 2.1 (for vectors in Rn ), 6.1– 6.4 (with examples from 1.1, 2.1, 2.2,
5.1, 5.2), 1.1-1.4, 2.1–2.4, 5.4, 5.3, 8.1, 3.1–3.3, 2.6, 7.1, 7.2. Please note that the material
in sections 4.1–4.3 is merely review and will be part of the subject of the Diagnostic test.
The order in which the material is covered is roughly that of the above list. However, your
class notes and the online book ”Vector Spaces First” should be your primary sources.

This course is not structured into modules: each test or assignment will examine all the
material covered from the beginning of the course, up to that date. Thus, as the course
progresses, tests will look more and more like the final exam, which will cover all the
material in the course. No calculators will be permitted (or needed) on any test.

Problem Sessions/DGD: Discussion groups (DGDs) are held on Mondays. These are
sessions led by a TA who will work out complete solutions to problems related to the class
material – frequently these questions come from past exams. There are three separate
sessions – consult your schedule.

Evaluation: There will be four tests and a final exam. Note that each test (except for
the first, which will mainly test prerequisite material) will examine all the material covered
from the beginning of the course up to that date, unless otherwise specified. Solutions to
tests will be posted on the web.

1
 Test/Assignment Date Time and Room
Diagnostic Test Monday September 21 Your DGD time and room
Test 2 Monday October 19 Your DGD time and room
Test 3 Thursday November 12 In class, 11:30-1:00 in MCD 146
Test 4 Monday November 30 Your DGD time and room

Please note that the results of test 3 will probably not be available before
the official drop date (20-November).

Math Help Centre: Excellent help is available in the Math Help Centre, Marion 021.
This is a service offered by the department for those looking for a little extra help with
math courses. The hours are:
• From September 14 to December 4 (Except the October study break): Monday to
Wednesday: 10:00-7:00, Thursday: 10:00-5:00 and Friday 10:00-3:00.

• For the study break, October 26-30, the center is open 10:00 to 3:00 Wednesday
through Friday and is closed on Monday (Oct 26) and Tuesday (Oct 27)

• There will be a special schedule from December 7 to 21 (Study and Exams period)
to be announced later.

Evaluation Scheme:
• If your score on the final exam is less than 45%, your final grade is your score on the
final exam.

• Otherwise, your final grade for the course shall be the weighted average of your scores
on the tests (50% = 4 x 12.5%) and the final (50%).

• However, if your final exam mark is better than any test mark, the weight of that
test will be shifted to the final.

• The weight of any test that you miss will be added to that of the final in the calculation
of the course mark.

Diagnostic test: This covers some material from high school. Please see the course
webpage for more details.

Determine the date, place and time of the final exam yourself - do not rely on
your friends for this. An error on their part can cause much unnecessary grief. Moreover,
do not write any exam, especially the final, if you are unwell. This cannot be taken into
account after the fact. Please consult the relevant faculty rules (academic regulations
section 9.5.1(e)).