MATH 4A

Linear Algebra with Applications

Fall 2014

The basics

Prereq's
Math 3B or 3BI with a grade of C, or a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the BC Calculus AP exam.
Text
David C. Lay, Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Fourth Edition (Hard bound ISBN: 0321399145).
Optional: Student Study Guide for Linear Algebra and Its Applications.
Topics
Systems of linear equations, matrix algebra, determinants, vector spaces and subspaces, basis and dimension, linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization, and orthogonality.
Lectures
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 1:00-1:50 in Campbell Hall.
Instructor
Stephen Bigelow
Office hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday 9:00-10:05 in South Hall 6514.
bigelow@math.ucsb.edu (Due to the large class size, not all email can be answered.)
TAs
Casey Blacker, Benjamin Cote, Xingshan Cui, Thomas Hogan, Tawny Lim, Eric Ling, and ChangLiang Wang. You can find their emails and, in some cases, homepages.

TARDIS

Your TA will give you a 4 digit "TARDIS" code some time before the first midterm. The code identifies your TA, your Regular Discussion section and, within that, you as an Individual Student. You must print this number the top right corner of all quizzes and exams. This will help us identify and sort them. If you forget, you might not receive the grade.

The course

Grades
Your grade is based on the following five scores. These are curved and combined to give a percentage, which is converted to a letter.
i>Clicker
You should buy an i>Clicker and bring it to lectures. You must register or re-register it during the first few weeks of the quarter. Here are the instructions. RE-register your clicker by following the link from the course webpage on Gauchospace.
Please read ahead in the textbook before coming to lecture. I might test you with an i>Clicker questions.
Homework
Required homework is done using WebWork , available through GauchoSpace . This counts towards your grade. Each week's homework assignment is due by 6:00 am on the following Monday 12:01pm on Monday (but please do it early).
Optional extra homework requires an individual MyMathLab access code, typically packaged with the book. Crashers get free access for 17 days.
If you do not plan to do the optional homework you do not need an access code. In this case a used book, even of an earlier edition, should suffice.
Section
By departmental policy, attendance at your regular discussion section is mandatory. If you have to miss a section, please contact your TA beforehand.
You might be able to switch discussion sections. Do not drop and re-register. You only need permission from both TAs involved, and a new TARDIS. Officially you will be in the original section, but you will attend and be graded in the new one.
Exams
There will be two exams during the term, and one final exam. You must bring convincing photo identification and a blank BLUEBOOK to all exams.
You may bring one 3" x 5" card but no calculator or other electronics.
You must write your TARDIS number on each bluebook.
If you miss a midterm or quiz for a legitimate reason, it may be possible to get an average for missed work based on the work you did. There will be no make-up exams.

Resources

Enrollment
Rachel Zaragoza is in charge of issues related to enrollment. You can visit her in the math office on the sixth floor of South Hall. The course has an online waiting list. If you are on the waiting list, you should do everything as if you were enrolled, and hope for the best. I do not have add codes and I am no help on enrollment issues.
Help
Here are some ways to get help.
Incompletes
If you cannot complete the course for a serious reason, you must complete a form and give it to the registrar before 4pm the day before the final. Here are the policies on incompletes.