Math 2240
Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald

Where to Get Help

  • Office Hours 326 Walker Hall 262-2363
    I am always happy to help you in office hours. An open door means that I am on the floor somewhere, so come look for me.
  • http://www.mathsci.appstate.edu/~sjg/class/2240/s05.html Check this often for homework and for access to the other class web pages.
  • The WebCT Bulletin Board is the easiest way to ask a math question outside of class and office hours. You are responsible for reading all posts from me. I prefer that you use office hours since it is easier to discuss material in person, but if you can not make them, then the newsgroup is a great alternative. I usually check the newsgroup numerous times every day including the weekends.
  • Math Lab in Walker. Students answer questions.

    Required Resources

  • Elementary Linear Algebra by Larson and Edwards. 5th Edition.
  • Visual Linear Algebra (VLA) by Herman and Pepe.
  • calculator
  • loose-leaf notebook and hole puncher to organize handouts, notes and your work
  • printouts of your work - see http://pharos.appstate.edu/ for information about ASU charging for print services and media cards.
  • access to a web-browser and to Maple 9 along with VLA on the file server and/or at your own computer -- mac or pc is fine (on-campus access is sufficient as long as you have the time to work on campus while the labs are open)

    Course Goals
  • An introduction to linear algebra, via selections of Chapters 1-7 of the textbook and Maple VLA modules
  • An exposure to theory, proofs, and some of the history of the subject
  • Learn about applications of linear algebra
  • Math 2240 has been designated as a computer designated course. We will be using Maple and VLA to satisfy the designator.

    Grades

  • Participation 15% Attendance is required. You are expected to contribute to discussions, read the WebCT bulletin board, and complete practice problems and literacy quizzes. You are also expected to actively engage the material in class and lab. This means that when we are doing a calculation, you must also do this, and you are expected to take notes since the book does not contain everything you need to know. These kinds of baseline activities will result in a participation grade of 12/15. Other activities can increase or decrease this grade. Asking and answering thought provoking questions, coming up with creative ways of thinking about the material, and explaining the material to others are some examples of positive participation that will increase your grade. On the other hand, performing activities that detract from the professional classroom environment will result in a lowered participation grade.
  • Projects and Problem Sets 35% Work will not be accepted without explanation and must also be turned in on or before the due date because solutions will be posted. If there is some reason you must miss a class, then obtain the assignment from the web pages. The lowest project will be dropped - save this for emergencies. Every other project will be equally weighted regardless of the total number of points. If all of your work is turned in on time and you have received at least 70% credit for all work, then you will receive +1 added on to your final average.
  • Major topic exams 30% No make-up exams will be given. May occur during the last week of class. You should view exams primarily as a learning experience. This means that exams are not only an opportunity for you to demonstrate your mastery of the material, but are also an opportunity for you to be challenged with new material in order for you to make new connections. To encourage exams as a learning experience some extra points will be granted for test revisions.
  • Final project poster presentations Tues May 3 20% No make-ups allowed.
  • Attendance Attendance is required at all classes. If the university is open and you miss a class, whether it is for an official or unofficial reason, you will be counted as absent. You will receive (-.7*credit hours of absences + 2.1)/100 added on (or subtracted from) your final average. Each class is 1.5 credit hours. Missing more than 7.5 credit hours will result in an automatic F in the course.

    Methodology

    Material is covered very quickly. Plan to spend at least 1.5-2 hours outside of class for each credit hour in class, (on average). You are responsible for all material covered and all announcements and assignments made at each class, whether you are present or not. You are also responsible for announcements made on the web pages, so check them often.

    Asking questions, and explaining things to others, in or out of class, is one of the best ways to improve your understanding of the material. This course is to be an environment in which everyone feels comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, offering good guesses and ideas, and is respectful to one another.

    You should explore each problem and write out your thinking in a way that can be shared with others. Focus on your own ideas. Turn in projects or prepare to present problems even if it they are not complete, even if only to say, "I do not understand such and such" or "I am stuck here." Be as specific as possible. Conjecture. When writing up work, be sure to give acknowledgment where it is due. Submitting someone else's work as your own (PLAGIARISM) is a serious violation of the University's Academic Integrity Code.

    In this course, you will be challenged with problems that you have never seen before. I do not expect you to be able to solve all the issues immediately. Instead, I want to see what you can do on your own. Out in the real world, this is important, since no matter what job you have, you will be expected to seek out information and answers to new topics you have not seen before. This may feel uncomfortable and frustrating. I understand this and want to help you through the process. It helps to remember that there are no mathematical dead-ends! Each time we get stuck, it teaches us something about the problem we are working on, and leads us to a deeper understanding of the mathematics.

    In the real world though, you are not expected to face your work alone. You will be allowed to talk to other people and you may even be expected to work with other people. In this class, you are also not expected to face your work alone. I encourage you to talk to me often in class, office hours, and the bulletin board.

    I am always happy to help you, and will try to give you hints and direction to help you understand the material. At times though, to encourage the exploration process, I may direct you to rethink a problem and to come back to discuss it with me again afterwards. This occurs when I believe that the struggle to understand is imperative for your deep understanding of the material.