Math 291: Honors Elementary Linear Algebra

Math 291: Honors Elementary Linear Algebra

TuTh 9:30-10:20, Strong Hall 335

This is an introductory course on linear algebra. Because this is an honors course, we will not follow the usual path taken in Math 290, the non-honors version of this course. However, we will still study the same concepts, namely matrices, systems of equations, eigenvectors and eigenvalues, vector spaces, and linear transformations. Along the way we will learn how to prove elementary statements in linear algebra.

The course lectures will not follow any specific textbook. The official textbook for the course is the freely available text Linear Algebra by Jim Heffron. A free copy can be found here: Heffron text (set the price bar to $0). Lots of interesting supplementary resources can be found at Professor Heffron's linear algebra site Heffron.

Professor D. Katz

Snow Hall 501

TuTh 10:30am-11:30am, and by appointment. If you need help outside of office hours, you are more than welcome to schedule an in-person meeting, a Zoom meeting, or send an email whenever you have questions about the course or questions about problems on a homework assignment.

dlk53 AT ku dot edu

All information and further details about the the class will be posted on Canvas.

After each class, a synopsis of what was covered will be posted to Canvas and here: Daily Update

Homework will be assigned daily and assignments are due the Tuesday of the following week. You are encouraged to work together on homework problems, since it is often more fun to solve problems together. However, to bolster your mathematical writing skills, I recommend that you write up the solutions on your own. Learning mathematics is like learning a language, and the latter cannot be done without significant daily practice. The homework problems will give you plenty of opportunity to practice. You are responsible for all material covered in the homework assignments, especially since the weekly quizzes include homework problems. Check Canvas or here for the daily assignments: Math 291 Homework

There will be two in-class midterm exams. The dates for these exams are February 26 and April 16.

Throughout the semester students will have occasional opportunities to earn bonus points that will be added to their total score at the end of the semester.

The final exam will be held in our classroom from 7:30-10:am on Tuesday, May 12.

Homework (100 points), two midterm exams (100 points each) and the final exam (200 points). Total: 500 points. Note: All students must take the final exam. However, your (prorated) score on the final exam can replace your lowest midterm exam grade, if doing so improves your final average.