Math 113 Homepage, Autumn 2007

Linear algebra and matrix theory

Instructor: András Vasy

Office: 383M

Phone: 723-2226

E-mail: andras "at" math.stanford.edu

Office hours: T3:30-4:30pm, W10:30-11:30am, F1:30-2:30pm

Finals week: Regular office hour on Tuesday and Wednesday. Extra office hour: Tuesday, December 11th, 10-11am.

Class location: TTh 2:15-3:30pm in 380Y

Course assistant: Bob Hough

Office: 380G

E-mail: rdhough "at" math.stanford.edu

Office hours: M4-6pm, T12:15-2:15pm, W11:00am-1:00pm

Textbook: Axler: `Linear Algebra Done Right' (2nd edition) (required). Professor Katznelson's lecture notes available here will provide additional material for the course. The text Halmos: `Finite-Dimensional Vector Spaces' covers somewhat different topics, from a different point of view, and is recommended for those who would like to do some further reading.

The syllabus, as of June 26, is here.

This is a `linear algebra done right' course (as is the title of the primary text). It does not assume any linear algebra background, or a background in writing proofs. However, one of the goals of the course is to make you proficient in proof-writing, which is a crucial skill for more advanced mathematics courses, as well as a mechanism by which you can test your understanding of the material. For an application-oriented linear algebra class, see Math 103. You may want to try out both courses at the beginning of the quarter to see which suits your taste better.

Grading policy: The grade will be based on the weekly homework (30%), on the in-class midterm exam (30%) and on the in-class final exam (40%).

The homework will be due in class or in the instructor's mailbox by 9pm on the designated day. You are allowed to discuss the homework with others in the class, but you must write up your homework solution by yourself. Thus, you should understand the solution, and be able to reproduce it yourself. This ensures that, apart from satisfying a requirement for this class, you can solve the similar problems that are likely to arise on the exams.

The midterm is on Thursday, October 18th, in class, and will take 60 minutes. The best preparation is to read through Chapters 1-3 of the book, go through the homework problems, and then sit down when you have a 1-hour block of time and solve the practice midterm. After you are done CHECK your answers against the solutions. There may be other solutions than listed, and if you are not sure whether yours is correct, ask the instructor or the CA.

The practice midterm is here and the solutions are also available.

The midterm and the solutions are now available.

The midterm has been graded.

The mean is 64 points (out of 100), the median 61. There were 5 scores in the 90s (out of 59), so if your score was above 70, you did well. Rough ranges for the exams: 80ish, or higher: A, low-mid 70s: A-, high 60s: B+, mid 50s-mid 60s: B, high 40s-low 50s: B-, mid 40s: C+, high 30s-low 40s: C. Talk to me if you had a score below 45, or if you did not get at least 15 points on at least one, and preferably two, problems. The latter may indicate that you have trouble writing down proofs, which you need to learn by the final.

The final is, according to the registrar's schedule, on Wednesday, December 12th, 7-10pm. It will be in Herrin Hall, Room T175.

The practice final is here and the solutions are also available.

The final has been graded!

The mean was 113/160, the median 117. The grades have been submitted, and should be available on Axess soon.

Problem Sets

Unless otherwise noted, the page numbers refer to Axler's book.