Honors Linear Algebra and Real Analysis I, Fall 2016

Course Information

This course gives a rigorous treatment of linear algebra, plus a scattering of topological topics. In no particular order, we will cover: the construction of number systems; fields, vector spaces and linear transformations; eigenvalues and eigenvectors; determinants and inner products; metric spaces, compactness and connectedness. The plan is to work through Axler's Linear Algebra Done Right, and perhaps begin Spivak's Calculus and Calculus on Manifolds.

There will be three forms of graded work:

  • (25% of total) Weekly homework assignments, to be typed up in LaTeX and turned in at the CA's mailboxes (on the second floor of the Science Center) before class each Wednesday. (Expect to spend roughly 12-15 hours a week on this.)
  • (25% of total) A midterm exam, date listed below.
  • (50% of total) The final exam, date listed below.
Collaboration on homeworks with your peers is highly encouraged! However, you must give citations and indicate what you collaborated on and with whom. (Part of academic gracefulness is being very generous about crediting other people with their ideas.) If you use other resources for help, you should understand what you've read well enough that you could withstand interrogation about it—merely copying an answer is not enough to learn. Finally, collaboration on exams is of course prohibited and will result in academic discipline, which could mean failing the exam, failing the class, or expulsion.

Our general policy about late work is strict: we will not permit assignments to be handed in late or exams to be taken on other days without some written mandate from a doctor or the university administration.

Our meeting times for lecture, for office hours, and with the CAs have all been posted below. I will be updating this webpage throughout the semester.

Contact information

Schedule, Dates and Times

I have listed below some events (along with dates and times) relevant to the course. In addition to the office hours listed, I am also available by email and by appointment; I have a calendar at this address to facilitate setting up meetings.

Regular class times

Office hours

Important dates

Homework

Due November 30th: problem sheet
 (solutions)
Due November 16th: problem sheet
 (solutions)
Due November 9th: problem sheet
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Due November 2nd: problem sheet
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Due October 26th: problem sheet
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Due October 19th: problem sheet
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Due October 12th: problem sheet
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Due October 5th: problem sheet
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Due September 28th: problem sheet
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Due September 21st: problem sheet
 (solutions)
Due September 14th: problem sheet
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Course Materials

This is a work in progress.