Class Meetings: MWF 9:30-10:25, Fowler 302

Text: Gilbert Strang, Introduction to linear algebra, Second Edition. We will cover Chapters 1-5, and some of Chapter 6. I will follow the text fairly closely, so you should read it! To encourage you to learn how to learn mathematics on your own from a book, I will often require you to read a small portion of each section, without lecturing on it in class. You can of course ask me questions on the reading, in class and in office hours.

Homework: HW will be assigned every class day and posted on the class website, due by 2:30 PM the next class day. You are encouraged to work with others on HW; but you must write it up alone, in your own words. Copying is cheating, and I have zero tolerance for it. Doing mathematics is essential to learning mathematics. Think hard and patiently and don't give up when stuck on difficult problems. Take HW seriously, and expect to spend at least two hours on each assignment.

Labs: About once every three weeks there will be a lab assignment. These assignments will involve the use of computers, and a software package called MATLAB, which you will learn how to work with. We will not be able to use class time for the labs, but you are welcome to seek my help outside of class.

Quizzes: There may occasionally be short in-class quizzes, announced ahead of time. Each quiz will roughly count as two HW assignments.

Midterms: There will be three midterms, on the following tentative dates: Wednesday Feb 5th, Wednesday Mar 5th, and Wednesday Apr 9th. Changes to these dates, if any, will be announced one to two weeks in advance.

Final : The final exam will be on Thursday May 8th, 1:00-4:00 PM. Please make sure you do not have any exams or other plans (including travel plans) that conflict with this date and time; I do not give early or late finals!

Make-ups:

• Late homework will not be accepted. But you can make up for up to three missed or late homework assignments by completing each missed or late assignments within one week of when it was due and presenting it during office hours¾do not turn it in with your regular homework. You can do at most one make-up assignment during the last week of classes, and none after the last day of classes.
• No make-up exams will be given. If you miss a midterm with a valid excuse (e.g., a medical reason), and provide documentation for it, that midterm will simply not count for you—instead, all your other exams will count proportionally more.

Attendance: You are responsible for everything that goes on in every class meeting, such as announcements, handouts, taught topics that are not in the book, etc.  This means even if you miss a class for say a medical reason, it is your responsibility to contact me and find out what you missed.

E-mail: When necessary, I will make announcements via the class mailing list, instead of in the classroom. You are expected to check your email at least once a day. You are encouraged to use our class email list math214-L@oxy.edu to send messages to everyone in the class.

Academic Honesty: I feel strongly about protecting honest and hard-working students against unfair and dishonest actions sometimes committed by a few students. I don't give "warnings." I just refer all suspicious cases to the Judicial Examiner, without hesitation.

Students with learning disability: you are welcome to see me and the CTL to arrange for any special needs.