Linear Algebra : MATH 115B

Syllabus

Spring 2017

About the course

Name : MATH 115B or Linear Algebra, whichever you prefer

Place : (Lecture) MS 5127 and (Discussion) MS 5147
Time : (Lecture) MWF 9:00-9:50 AM
: (Discussion) R 9:00-9:50 AM
Book : S. Friedberg, et al, Linear Algebra - 4th Ed, Prentice Hall
Site : http://www.math.ucla.edu/~nbhaskh/M115B-2017Spring/homepage.html

About me

Name : Nivedita Bhaskhar or N, whichever you prefer

Email : nbhaskh AT math DOT ucla DOT edu
Office : MS 6310
Hours : M 12-1 PM and W 10-11 AM

About the TA

Name : Geunho Gim (Aiden)

Email : ggim AT math DOT ucla DOT edu
Office : MS 2344
Hours : Will be updated soon

Before starting

You need to have taken MATH 115A. An affinity for matrices would not be unwelcome.

After finishing

You will know all about vector spaces, linear transformations, duality, Jordan normal form, bilinear
forms, quadratic forms, Euclidean and unitary spaces, symmetric, skew and orthogonal linear transfor-
mations. With proofs!

Tentative schedule

We will broadly follow the recommended schedule at https://www.math.ucla.edu/ugrad/courses/

math/115B. However there might be changes depending on the pace of our class.

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A, B, C, D, E or F

There will be about 7 homework sets (weekly!), 2 quizzes, 1 midterm and a final examination. Grading
will be based on the higher of the following two schemes:

Scheme I Scheme II
Homework 10% 10%
Quizzes − I & II 10% each 10% (best of two)
Midterm 30% 20%
Final 40% 60%

More about quizzes and homework

A homework set will be given to you each Friday at the beginning of class which will be due exactly
one week later (i.e. by the next Friday, 10:00 AM). You can work together, but please ensure you write
the solutions in your own words, i.e. do NOT turn in word-for-word identical solutions. A sample
of the problems will be graded and returned to you. Late submissions will not be accepted, nor will
scans/photos of homework. You will get a score of zero for such work. However the lowest homework
score will be dropped while calculating your grade.
There will be 2 twenty-five minute quizzes (which will be held in the discussion sessions on Thursdays).
If you miss a quiz, you get a score of zero for it.

Submitting homework

- Write legibly and only on one side of the paper. If you use a pencil, make sure the writing is clear
and not very light.

- Staple your homework if it is more than one sheet.

- Write your name, homework number and clearly indicate problem numbers to which you are
providing solutions.

- Submit the homework at the start of class (or before!). Late submissions will not be accepted.

- Any submissions which fail these requirements will be returned ungraded.

Grading disputes

If you feel that a mistake was made in grading your homework, quizzes or exams or that your scores
have been incorrectly inputted into MyUCLA, bring it to my attention within 14 days from the date of
the exam/quiz or due date of the homework. Any complaints received later will not be considered. Be
aware that a re-grade means that your test will be graded from scratch, and it is entirely possible that
you will receive a lower score than originally given, if I decide that the original grade was too high.

Exam dates

Quiz I Apr 20 9:25-9:50 A.M

Midterm May 10 9:00-9:50 A.M
Quiz II June 1 9:25-9:50 A.M
Final June 14 8:00-11:00 A.M

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Unchangeables

1. Exam dates CANNOT and WILL NOT be changed.

2. There will be NO make up quizzes or exams.

3. Homework due dates will NOT be altered. Late submissions will not be accepted. Again, the
lowest homework score will be dropped for grade calculations.

4. Grading disputes and complaints about incorrect MyUCLA scores will NOT be considered after
14 days of the exam/quiz/due date of homework in question.

5. If you are absent for a quiz or an exam, you will get a score of zero for it.

6. Attendance is mandatory for the final exam. If you are absent, you will fail the course.

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities, please consult the Center for Accesible Education as soon as possible, so
that they can conact me to make arrangements.

What to do, what not to do

1. During quizzes and exams, you only need a pen or a pencil (i.e NO calculators, phones, textbooks
or notes).

2. Your answer papers must be neat, and your handwriting legible.

3. Try to be present (physically and mentally!) in all classes. More importantly, be on time. If you
do miss any material that is covered, it is your responsibility to look it up.

4. Ringing phones in class is NOT a good thing. Turn them off before class starts.
5. Follow the Conduct Code. Always.
http://www.deanofstudents.ucla.edu/Student-Conduct

6. No cheating. ’Nuff said.

7. Feel free to ask me questions during the lecture, though preferably none regarding homework problems.
These can be discussed with your TA.

8. Office hours are there for a reason. Use them, and NOT just a day before exams!