Math 125, Fall 2011: Syllabus
Elementary Linear Algebra
| Section | Time | Room | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | MWF 11:00-11:50 AM | 103 Mumford | Jimmy Tseng |
| E1 | MWF 1:00-1:50 PM | 100 MSEB | Robert Muncaster |
| G1 | MWF 3:00-3:50 PM | 180 Bevier | Jimmy Tseng |
Required Text and Notes: The required texts are
1. Linear Algebra with Business Applications, by Sherbert and Brown. This text includes a supplement in the back by Adawi and Royer which provides more exercises and TI-83/TI-84 calculator instructions.
2. Math 125 Lecture Notes. These lecture notes are incomplete and students will fill them in during class. Bring them to every lecture. They will be made available at TIS Bookstore (706 S 6th street).
Required Calculator: A TI-83, TI-83+, TI-84 or a TI-84+ calculator is required (Silver version is fine). You may use it on exams, however, you will still be required to show work in most cases. The use of any other graphing calculators (including the TI-85, TI-86, TI-89, etc.) will not be allowed during exams.
Homework: There will be two different types of homeworks: daily practice problems (not to be handed in) and graded homeworks (to be handed in). The practice problems will consist of problems directly from the text and its supplemental section. Practice problems will not be collected, however, it is strongly suggested that you do them to solidify your understanding of the material. A list of practice problems for each section is posted on the course website.
Graded homeworks will be due every two weeks at the start of Wednesday's lecture. These homeworks will consist of problems not found in your text book. They will be posted as pdf files on the course website. Paper copies will not be distributed.
You must turn graded homeworks in at the start of class the day they are due. Any homework handed in later than 10 minutes after the start of class WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. As a courtesy to our graders, homework should be written on loose-leaf paper and should be stapled together. Your full name (as it appears on your i-card) and the time of the section for which you are registered should be printed clearly in the top right corner of the front page.
Exams: There will be three midterm exams given during the semester. They will be evening exams starting at 7 PM on the following days.
| Exam 1 | Thursday, September 22nd |
| Exam 2 | Thursday, October 20th |
| Exam 3 | Thursday, November 17th |
You must bring a picture ID to all exams. The locations are yet to be determined. A few days before each exam,information will be posted on the course website with information about where you are to go to write the exam.
Makeup Exams: Makeup exams will only be given if you notify your instructor of a conflict BEFORE THE EXAM and provide justification for the conflict. For example, if the exam conflicts with another exam or class then a copy of your schedule and a letter from the instructor of the conflicting class would suffice. If you must miss the exam for any other reason, then a letter from the Emergency Dean excusing your absence will be required. It is completely the instructor's discretion whether or not you will be allowed a make-up exam and whether or not there will be any penalty assessed for your absence from the exam.
Only one written makeup exam is offered for each exam. This makeup exam will take place AT 6:45 AM ON THE FRIDAY MORNING JUST AFTER THE EXAM DATE. Any students with an excused absence for both the written exams will be given an oral exam.
Final Exams: The final will be cumulative. Locations for the final exams will be announced, both in class and on the website, later in the semester.
| Section | Exam Date and Time |
| D1 | 8:00 - 11:00 AM, Tuesday, Dec 13th |
| E1 | 1:30 - 4:30 PM, Friday, Dec 16th |
| G1 | 1:30 - 4:30 PM, Monday, Dec 12th |
Calculator Policy: A TI-83, TI-83+, TI-84 or a TI-84+ calculator (silver versions are fine) is required for the course and you will need to use it on exams. No other calculators may be used. The storage of notes and formulas in your calculator is prohibited and will be considered cheating. You are responsible for the calculator you bring to the exam, even if it is not yours but borrowed for the occasion.
You will not be allowed to use calculators with any programs other than PIVOT. The proctors will check every calculator before the exam to ensure that this rule is followed.
If you need to delete programs from your calculator, here are instructions for doing so:
- Press the "2nd" and the "+" button (MEM option).
- In the options that come up on the screen, choose "Mem Mngmt/ Delete" (this option will be simply "Delete" in some models).
- In the options that come up, go down and choose "Programs".
- For each program other than PIVOT, choose it and hit the "DEL" key.
- It will give you a message asking you to confirm deletion. Choose "YES".
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each program until you have deleted all programs other than PIVOT.
It is your responsibility to come into the exam with a program-free calculator.
Academic Integrity Violations: The student's academic integrity code can be found in the Student Code - Article 1 Part 4 . In accordance with these policies, the penalty that an instructor is permitted to impose for cheating of any kind on any graded material or calculator policy violation in this class is anything up to immediate failure of the course and a letter placed in the student's permanent school file. SUCH ACTIONS CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOUR CAREER WELL BEYONG YOUR UNDERGRADUATE TRAINING. Integrity is something you should protect.
DRES Accommodations: If you are recommended for exam accommodations by DRES, your instructor must be notified and presented with offcial documentation NO LATER THAN one week before the first exam for which an accomodation is requested.
Grading: The components of your grade are as follows:
| Homework | 10% |
| Exam 1 | 20% |
| Exam 2 | 20% |
| Exam 3 | 20% |
| Final | 30% |
Maximum cutoffs for letter grades will be at the traditional 90%, 80%, etc. with plus and minus grades given at the following intervals. Curves are possible but rare.
| A+ | 96.67-100 |
| A | 93.34-96.66 |
| A- | 90-93.33 |
| B+ | 86.67-90 |
| B | 83.34-86.66 |
| B- | 80-83.33 |
| C+ | 76.67-80 |
| C | 73.34-76.66 |
| C- | 70-73.33 |
| D+ | 66.67-70 |
| D | 63.34-66.66 |
| D- | 60-63.33 |
| F | below 60 |
Tutoring and Office Hours: There will be a free tutoring room available speciffcally for these classes provided by the Department of Mathematics. For more information on the tutoring room and other sources of tutoring, go to tutoring.
The instructors will offer office hours each week to discuss administrative details of the course. Check the link office hours for scheduling and location.
Attendance: It is your responsibility to attend class. If you miss or are late to class, contact another student to get the lecture notes. Do not e-mail the instructors. There will often be announcements made in class about the tutoring rooms, room changes for exams, etc. If you miss class or arrive late, check the website or talk to someone else in the class about any important announcements.
Classroom Decorum: These are very large lectures with many people. The classroom environment should be conducive to learning by all. Please keep chit-chat to a minimum, cell phones turned off, etc. If your behavior is disrespectful to your classmates, you will be asked to leave.
Returned Work and Grade Disputes: Homework and exams will be returned in class. Any uncollected homework or exams will be disposed of exactly one week after the day they are passed back. If you are unable to pick up your work in class, you must make arrangements to collect it from the instructors in office hours.
Solutions to graded homeworks and exams will be posted before the homeworks and exams are returned to you. Grading issues should be discussed with the instructors in office hours and must be initiated using the Grade Explanation Form on our site. You have exactly one week after the day your work is passed back in class to discuss these issues. After this time, no changes will be made to your score.