MATH 346: Applied Linear Algebra

General Information

Instructor: Oscar Gonzalez (og@math.utexas.edu) 471-1138

Office hrs: RLM 10.122, M 11am-12pm, Tu 10-11am, W 3-4pm, Th 2-3pm

Text : Applied Linear Algebra, by Lorenzo Sadun (2001, Prentice Hall)

Lecture : RLM 5.116, MWF 2-3pm

Course webpage: http://www.ma.utexas.edu/~og/TEACHING/M346/m346.html

Description

This is a second course in linear algebra that focuses on the concepts of eigenvalues, eigenvectors and orthogonality. The course is designed primarily for advanced undergraduates with an interest in linear algebra and its various applications to dynamical systems, defined by either discrete or differential equations, and data analysis. The main topics to be covered are vector spaces and linear operators, eigenvalues and diagonalization, normal mode expansions, inner products and orthogonality, Fourier series and the wave equation.

Prerequisites

Officially, M340L or M341. Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of linear algebra, calculus and elementary differential equations. Some familiarity with mathematical software such as Matlab will also be helpful.

Policies

Homeworks: There will be weekly problem sets, some requiring the use of Matlab.


Exams: There will be 3 exams (the third exam to be held during the time scheduled by the University for the Final Examination). The tentative dates are

Exam #1 (Sep 20), Exam #2 (Oct 23), Exam #3 (Dec 12, 2pm).


Course grade: Your overall course grade will be determined by your homework and exam grades in the following proportions

Homeworks (25%), Exam #1 (25%), Exam #2 (25%), Exam #3 (25%).


If your lowest exam grade occurs among Exam #1 or #2, then it will be replaced by the average of the two other exam grades.


Grade scale: If necessary, exam grades will be curved to achieve a class average equivalent to 75/100 points or thereabouts. Grades will never be curved downwards. The overall course grade will be based on a standard grading scale (A=100-90%, B=89-80%, C=79-70%, D=69-60%, F=59-0%).


Students with disabilities: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.

Tentative Schedule

The following table is a tentative schedule for the course, where numbers in the Reading columns refer to sections in the text. Please be aware that material may be reordered, added or deleted.

Date	Reading		Date	Reading
			M 21 Oct	5.7
W 28 Aug	Chap 1		W 23 Oct	Exam #2
F 30 Aug	2.1		F 25 Oct	6.1-6.2
M 02 Sep	holiday		M 28 Oct	6.3
W 04 Sep	2.2		W 30 Oct	6.4
F 06 Sep	2.3-2.4		F 01 Nov	6.5
M 09 Sep	2.5		M 04 Nov	6.6
W 11 Sep	3.1-3.2		W 06 Nov	6.7
F 13 Sep	3.3		F 08 Nov	6.9
M 16 Sep	3.4		M 11 Nov	7.1
W 18 Sep	3.5		W 13 Nov	7.2
F 20 Sep	Exam #1		F 15 Nov	7.3
M 23 Sep	4.1-4.2		M 18 Nov	7.4-7.5
W 25 Sep	4.3		W 20 Nov	8.1
F 27 Sep	4.4		F 22 Nov	8.2
M 30 Sep	4.5		M 25 Nov	8.3
W 02 Oct	4.6		W 27 Nov	tba
F 04 Oct	4.7		F 29 Nov	holiday
M 07 Oct	4.8		M 02 Dec	8.4
W 09 Oct	5.1		W 04 Dec	8.5
F 11 Oct	5.2		F 06 Dec	8.7
M 14 Oct	5.3		M-W 9-11 Dec	no class
W 16 Oct	5.4		Thur 12 Dec	Exam #3
F 18 Oct	5.5