Math 238 sections 3 and 5
  Spring 2013

Chapter 1 Test    Chapter 2 Test    Chapter 3 Quiz    Chapter 4 Test    Chapter 5 Test
Ch1TestKey       Ch2TestKey       Ch3QuizKey       Ch4TestKey       Ch5TestKey
The syllabus (class schedule) in .pdf format is here and the policy information (outline of course, office hours, exam format, etc.) is here.  Much of that information is repeated bellow (but not all of it, so read the syllabus!).  The course schedule will be in the listed order with the exam and problems dates as specified, but some sections of the book are more difficult than others, so there will be a bit of flexibility in how long various sections take.  When in doubt, your HOMEWORK is to be prepared for the class activities that are scheduled for the next class (the activities on the schedule are the ones that will take place that day) AND to keep up with the corresponding  WeBWork assignments.  For any particular section, your homework is to read that section in the book, take notes on your reading in your Notebook and be prepared to answer questions/give definitions/give examples, etc. based on your reading both for class discussion and for the daily quiz.  We will try to reserve some time each Tuesday to work on problems.  For this, your homework is to do as much of the WeBWork assignment as possible and as many of the Suggested Problems as you need to feel comfortable presenting one of that type of problem to the class. You should do as many of the problems (of each type) as you need to feel comfortable presenting one of that type of problem to the class.  The point of doing exercises is to help you to understand the material, not to jump through silly hoops, so don't do more (for fewer) exercises than are necessary for you.  (I reserve the right to assign specific problem later in the semester.) 

Extra credit for this course can be earned by attending and handing in a written summary for math talks such as the weekly colloquia and/or by participating in the Problem of the Week contest.

In addition to this, there will be online homework that is for credit (your homework scores will be combined with your test scores for that particular exam).  To access the online homework, go to WeBWork and login using your .jmu id.  The due date for online homework is on the class schedule.  The first online homework assignment is not optional.  For feedback on specific problems, please see me or the Math Science Learning Center.

Suggested Problems along with the written option for the first homework assignment are listed towards the bottom of this page.

Instructor
Rebecca E. Field
fieldre@math.jmu.edu
(540) 568-4962
Office: Roop 114
Office Hours: M 12:30-2:00pm, Tu 12:30-1:30pm and 3:30-4:30pm
Also by appointment

Lecture:
Section 3: MWF 11:15am-12:05pm Burruss 126
Tu 11:00am-12:15pm Burruss 126
Section 11: MWF 2:30-3:20pm Burruss 126
Tu 2:00-3:15pm Burruss 141
 

Textbook
Linear Algebra with Differential Equations, Peterson/Sochacki, 2002 Addison Wesley
available at the campus bookstore.


Course summary:
This course is a combination of two extremely important and interrelated topics in mathematics, namely Linear Algebra and Differential Equations.  In Linear Algebra we will cover systems of equations, matrices, matrix operations, vector spaces, linear transformations and eigenvalues and eigenvectors.  For Differential Equations, we will cover first order ODEs, linear differential equations and systems of differential equations.  All of this material is vital for mathematics, physics and engineering in the sense that the techniques covered are vital to the working scientist in a wide variety of fields.  At many schools, a similar course is required for all science majors.

We will be covering theorems and some proofs in this class, but the major goal is to give you a working knowledge of this material, so many of the proofs will be saved for further courses such as Math 434 Advanced Linear Algebra, Math 441 Analysis and Dynamics of Differential Equations and Math 448 Numerical Analysis.  You will not be asked to prove the major theorems on your own in an exam setting, but you are expected to understand the proofs presented in class, and may be asked to provide a less formal explanation in an exam.

Exams:
Chapter 1 Test: Tuesday, January 29, during class time
Chapter 2 Test: Tuesday, February 19, during class time
Chapter 3 Quiz: Friday, March 1, during class time
Chapter 4 Test: Tuesday, March 26, during class time
Chapter 5 Test: Monday, April 15, during class time

Final Exam: Section 3, Monday, April 29 10:30am-12:30pm, Burruss 126
Section 5, Wednesday, May 1 1:00-3:00pm, Burruss 126

Extra Help:
Please come by my office hours or make an appointment if you need extra help.  Another resource available to you is the Math and Science Learning Center located in Roop Hall.  They are open 10am through 8pm Monday through Thursday as well as Friday 10am-2:30pm and Saturday 5-8pm.  You can also obtain a list of math tutors available for hire through the math office on the third floor of Roop Hall.
Suggested problems/written homework:
§1.1   1,3,5,7,9,11,13,14,15,17,21-28
§1.2   1,3,5,7,8,9,11,13,17,18-23,27,28,29,31
§1.3   1,3,5,9,11,12,15,16,18,20,21
§1.4   1-7,9,11,13,15-19,23d,26,33
§1.5   1,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,16
§1.6   1,3,5,7,9,11,14,15
§2.1   1-5,7,8,12
§2.2   1-4,7,9,11,12,13,15,17-20,25
§2.3   1,3-7,9,10,12,14,15,18-23,25,27,28
§2.4   1-5,7,9,13,15-17,19,21,22
§2.5   1,3-5,10-12,14
§3.1   1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19
§3.2   1,3,5,7,8,9,13,15,19,21
§3.3   1,3,5,9,11,13,17
§3.4   1,5,7,9,11,13,15,17
§4.1   1-5,7,9,12,13,16,21,23
§4.2   3,5,7,10,13,15,18,21,23,26,27,29,38
§4.3   1,5,7,9,11,13,15,16,17,21,23-26
§4.4   1,3,5,7,9,15
§4.5   1,3,5,9,11,15,17
§5.1   1-3,5,7,9,11,13,14,15-19,21,23,25,27
§5.2   1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,20,22,23
§5.3   1-6,8,9,11
§5.4   1,3,7,9,17,20,21,22,26
§5.5   1,3,7,9,17,19,21,23,25,27,31,32,34,36
§6.1   1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15
§6.2   1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25
§6.5   1,5,7,13
§6.6   1,3,9,11
Topics we will cover are roughly as follows:

Systems of Linear Equations
Matrices and Matrix Operations
Inverses of Matrices
Special Matrices and Additional Properties of Matrices
Determinants
Further Properties of Determinants
Vector Spaces
Subspaces and Spanning Sets
Linear Independence and Bases
Dimension; Nullspace, Row Space, and Column Space
Wronskians
Introduction to Differential Equations
Separable Differential Equations
Rules for Calculating Basic Derivatives
Linear Differential Equations
The Theory of Higher Order Linear Differential Equations
Homogeneous Constant Coefficient Linear Differential Equations
The Method of Undetermined Coefficients
The Method of Variation of Parameters
Linear Transformations
The Algebra of Linear Transformations; Differential Operators and Differential Equations
Matrices for Linear Transformations
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of Matrices
Similar Matrices, Diagonalization and Jordan Canonical Forms
The Theory of Systems of Linear Differential Equations
Homogeneous Systems with Constant Coefficients; the Diagonalizable Case
Converting Differential Equations to First Order Systems
Application Involving Systems of Linear Differential Equations