Course Syllabus

MAS 3105 Matrix and Linear Algebra

Fall 2020

Days, Time, and Place:	TR 9:00 am ET - 10:50 am ET (Zoom meetings)
Instructors:	David Guinovart Sanjuan (please use Webcourses to communicate with your instructor)  Email: Guinovart@ucf.edu
Teaching Assistant (TA):	Iam Gta (please use Webcourses to communicate with the TA)  Email: Iam.Gta@Knights.ucf.edu
Office Hours	David Guinovart Sanjuan MW (10:20 am to 12:30 am). Webcourses Discussions Tool and Zoom Meetings. Always available through Webcourses. Jade Nephrite Vanadium MTWR (4:00 pm to 5:00 pm). Webcourses Discussions Tool and Zoom Meetings.
Textbook:	Linear Algebra and its Applications, 5th edition, David Lay, Pearson, with MyLabsPlus access code

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Matrices, determinants, vector spaces over the reals, linear independence, basis, solutions of systems, range of linear transformations, eigenvectors, singular value decomposition.  

CREDIT HOURS: 4

PREREQUISITES: MAC 2312 or C.I.

 

OBJECTIVES: The course will familiarize students with the main concepts and techniques of linear algebra. It includes systems of linear equations, matrices and basic operations, determinants, vector spaces, linear transformations in vector spaces, independence and bases, eigenvalues of matrices, diagonalization, inner products, and orthogonalization, and singular value decomposition. These instruments are crucial tools in modern mathematics, physics, engineering, and technology.  The course is primarily but not exclusively a computationally based approach to linear algebra.  

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Understanding of the elementary theory of linear algebra, including computational and theoretical aspects of matrix algebra, solutions of systems of linear equations, and related topics.  Ability to choose appropriate techniques to solve various problems related to linear algebra, primarily from a computational aspect but also with an understanding of theoretical considerations.  Basic ability to prove statements in linear algebra.

TEXTBOOK COVERAGE:  Chapters 1-7 of the Lay textbook will be covered, with a few sections omitted.

FALL 2020 ONLINE INSTRUCTION:  Students must have a computer and reliable broadband internet access, and must regularly log on to WebCourses and to MyLabsPlus (see below).  Office hours will also be conducted online.

Requirements:

• Students must have a computer/laptop.  A mobile device such as a phone will almost certainly not be sufficient.  A tablet device (e.g. iPad) might be sufficient, but you are responsible for making that determination.
• Students must have a reliable internet connection.  If your internet connectivity is intermittent, very slow, or otherwise unreliable, you will have difficulty completing the course.  Accommodations for tests, quizzes, and online homework, in general, will not be granted due to unreliable internet connections.
• Tests will be administered using WebCourses and requiring “File Upload” of written responses.  Students must be able to scan or take a picture of written work and be able to upload it to WebCourses.  There are many free or low-cost scanning apps available for Apple, Android, and PC devices.
• Quizzes and online homework will be administered in the MyLabsPlus platform.  Students must purchase a MyLabsPlus access code in order to complete quizzes and online homework.

STUDENT ACADEMIC ACTIVITY REQUIREMENT: All faculty members are required to document students' academic activity and engagement at the beginning of each course.   In this class, a “syllabus quiz” in WebCourses will be used during the first week of classes to document academic activity and engagement.  This syllabus quiz will count as a normal quiz grade (see Quizzes below).

MYLABSPLUS: This course will utilize the MyLabsPlus platform provided by the publisher of the textbook.  All students must purchase an access code to use MyLabsPlus for the entirety of the term. Students must also have access to a computer and reliable broadband internet access.  Quizzes and online homework will be administered in MyLabsPlus. Using a cell phone as your primary source of internet access is almost certainly not sufficient.

Information on how to access and login to MyLabsPlus is provided in WebCourses.  Briefly, the website is http://ucf.mylabsplus.com (Links to an external site.).

ONLINE HOMEWORK:  There will be graded online homework assignments in MyLabsPlus.  Assignments will generally open on a Sunday and be available until the following Sunday and are due at 11:59 pm on the given due date.

All assignments will have posted due dates and these due dates will not be extended, so please plan accordingly. Personal computer issues, login errors, internet connectivity, adding the class late, travel plans, and computer connectivity or performance issues of any kind will NOT warrant an extension. If you are experiencing issues, you are encouraged to contact the 24/7 technical support service at 1-888-561-9110.

QUIZZES:  Four to six quizzes will be given using the MyLabsPlus platform, during most weeks in which there is not otherwise an exam.  Quiz grades will be recorded in WebCourses as they are available.

EXAMS: Four exams will be given using the WebCourses platform, scheduled as follows:

• Exam 1:  Tuesday, Sep 1st, 2020  (Sections 1.1 - 1.9)
• Exam 2:  Tuesday, Oct 6th, 2020 (Sections 2.1 - 4.3)
• Exam 3:  Tuesday, Nov 10, 2020 (Sections 4.4 - 6.1)
• Final Exam: (mandatory and comprehensive): date, time and room TBA

These exam dates and coverage are subject to change depending on the pace of the lectures.  Any changes to the scheduled days/times and coverage will be announced at least one business day prior to each exam.  

Exams will require students to submit work via the “File Upload” facility in WebCourses.  Students must be able to scan or take a picture of written work and be able to upload the scans/pictures to WebCourses.

DROPPING AND REPLACING GRADES: Your two lowest homework grades will be dropped. No other grades will be dropped.  Missed graded work will count as zero in the gradebook. No “replacing” of grades will be done.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  Exams, quizzes, and homework are unproctored activities.  Students are expected and required to exercise every bit as much academic integrity as if they were in a physical classroom.  Most especially, students may not receive any form of unauthorized help. During tests and quizzes, collaboration with other persons (whether in the class or not) is explicitly and absolutely NOT AUTHORIZED.   On homework, collaboration with fellow students in the class is authorized but work you submit for a grade must be your own; also, use of your notes and the text for homework is authorized.

GRADING: 

Assessment	Weight
Homework average	5%
Quizzes	15%
In-class Exams	60% total
Final Exam	20% Total

 

Final grades will be assigned according to the following scale.  No plus/minus grades will be assigned.

Average	Course Grade
90-100%	A
80-89%	B
70-79%	C
60-69%	D
0-59%	F

 

GRADE POSTING:  All earned grades in this course will be posted promptly in WebCourses (except for the running homework grade; see the statement above regarding the online homework grades).  Grade information will not be given by email.

MAKE-UP POLICY: Except as required by the University, exam/quiz make-ups will not be given. Personal travel plans, medical reasons, personal or family emergencies, and technical difficulties are not valid reasons for taking quizzes or tests at a time different than scheduled.  See also “RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES” below.

University related absences that require special scheduling must be arranged prior to the missed exam. Such absences must be documented by a university official (UCF Policy 4-401.1). Absences due to court-imposed legal obligations will also be accommodated, if documentation is provided, on a case-by-case basis but typically by requiring the work be completed at the very earliest opportunity.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES (UCF Regulation 5.020 (1)): The University of Central Florida will reasonably accommodate the religious observances, practices, and beliefs of individuals in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and work assignments. A student who desires to observe a religious holy day of his or her religious faith must notify all of his/her instructors at the beginning of the term to be excused from classes to observe the religious holy day.

CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS:  The official venue for making class announcements is in WebCourses.  Students should regularly log in to WebCourses to review announcements.

 Important Dates:

• Friday, October 30, 2020: Withdrawal deadline
• Monday, September 7, 2020: Labor Day
• Wednesday, November 11, 2020: Veterans Day
• Thursday, November 26, 2020 -Saturday, November 28, 2020: Thanksgiving

The authoritative source for dates is the Academic Calendar at https://calendar.ucf.edu/2020/fall.

 

Note: The information in this syllabus is subject to change. Any changes will be explicitly announced on WebCourses.

UCF Core Policy Statements

Academic Integrity

The Center for Academic Integrity (CAI) defines academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action.

http://www.academicintegrity.org/icai/assets/FVProject.pdf (Links to an external site.)

 

UCF Creed: Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence are the core values that guide our conduct, performance, and decisions.

1. Integrity: I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty.
2. Scholarship: I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of my membership in the UCF community.
3. Community: I will promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual.
4. Creativity: I will use my talents to enrich the human experience.
5. Excellence: I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake.

 

The following definitions of plagiarism and misuse of sources come from the Council of Writing Program Administrators <http://wpacouncil.org/node/9 (Links to an external site.)> and has been adopted by UCF’s Department of Writing & Rhetoric.

Plagiarism

In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledg­ing its source. This definition applies to texts published in print or on-line, to manuscripts, and to the work of other student writers.

Misuse of Sources

A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify and credit his or her source, but who misuses a specific citation format or incorrectly uses quota­tion marks or other forms of identifying material taken from other sources, has not plagiarized. Instead, such a student should be considered to have failed to cite and document sources appropri­ately.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

UCF faculty members have a responsibility for your education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to infringements of academic integrity. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a "Z Designation" on a student's official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z. For more information about the Z Designation, see http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/zgradeLinks to an external site.. For more information about UCF's Rules of Conduct, see http://www.osc.sdes.ucf.edu/Links to an external site..

Unauthorized Use of Class Materials

There are many fraudulent websites claiming to offer study aids to students but are actually cheat sites. They encourage students to upload course materials, such as test questions, individual assignments, and examples of graded material. Such materials are the intellectual property of instructors, the university, or publishers and may not be distributed without prior authorization. Students who engage in such activity are in violation of academic conduct standards and may face penalties.

Unauthorized Use of Class Notes

Third parties may be selling class notes from this class without authorization. Please be aware that such class materials may contain errors, which could affect your performance or grade. Use these materials at your own risk.

In-Class Recording Policy

Outside of the notetaking and recording services offered by Student Accessibility Services, the creation of an audio or video recording of all or part of a class for personal use is allowed only with the advance and explicit written consent of the instructor. Such recordings are only acceptable in the context of personal, private studying and notetaking and are not authorized to be shared with anyone without the separate written approval of the instructor.

Course Accessibility Statement

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need specific access in this course, such as accommodations, should contact the professor as soon as possible to discuss various access options. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility ServicesLinks to an external site. (Ferrell Commons, 7F, Room 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone (407) 823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable.

 

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, however everyone should be aware of the surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

• In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.    
• Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Please make a note of the guide’s physical location and consider reviewing the online version at http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.htmlLinks to an external site..  
• Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes from each of your classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.
• If there is a medical emergency during class, we may need to access a first aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those items are located in this building, see    http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/workplacesafety.htmlLinks to an external site.     (click on link from menu on left).    
• To stay informed about emergency situations, sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to my.ucf.eduLinks to an external site. and logging in.  Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the tool bar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on your Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including your e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
• If you have a special need related to emergency situations, please speak with your instructor during office hours.
• Consider viewing this video (You CAN Survive an Active Shooter (Links to an external site.)) about how to manage an active shooter situation on campus or  elsewhere.     

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

If you are a deployed active duty military student and feel that you may need a special accommodation due to that unique status, please contact your instructor to discuss your circumstances.

Note: This syllabus may be partially modified.

You will be notified of any changes in class and via WebCourses announcements.