Math 017b
Algebra and Geometry
Summer Evening 2002
University of Western Ontario
Instructor: Gordon Craig
Office: Middlesex College 103H
Classroom: Talbot College 309
Office Hours: Monday 6:00 pm, in class, and by
appointment.
I will also be available to answer questions after class.
Email:
gcraig@math.sunysb.edu
Web: http://www.math.uwo.ca/~gcraig
Textbook: Stewart, et al., Algebra and Geometry
Lectures: Monday and Wednesday 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm.
Grading: The course grade will be computed as follows:
Homework and in-class quizzes:
15%
First midterm: 35%
Final exam: 50%
I'll be writing the homework assignments myself. I'll always give you at least a week to do them. Their main purpose is to give you different kinds of problems from the ones in the book, and to allow me to see how you're handling the material. One of the difficulties with the textbook problems is that you can normally figure out how to approach a question based on which section of the book it is from. The quizzes will be made up of questions from the course outline. Here is what each quiz and assignment will cover:
Quiz #1(June 24): Sections 1.1, 1.2.
Quiz #2(July 3): Sections 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1.
Assignment #1(Due July 3): Section 1.2, #10; Section 1.3, ##11,15; Section 1.6, #15(a),(d).
Assignment #2(Due July 15): Please come get it from me.
Quiz #3(July 22): Sections 3.5, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6.
Solutions to the suggested problems are available at the reserve desk in the Taylor Library or online.
The purpose of this course is to give an overview of some basic geometry and linear algebra. This material is important for any more advanced course. The main emphasis will be placed on acquiring a good feel for the concepts and developing problem-solving skills.
The lectures will follow the topics in the textbooks, although the approach and emphasis will be quite different. You'll get a lot more out of the lectures if you read the sections that we will be covering before coming to class. Try to at least skim over them. It's also important that you work through the problems in the textbook, and avoid looking at the solutions manual until you're either fairly confident that you have the right answer or are completely stumped. For better or worse, the only way to learn math is to take the time to think things through yourself. If you have any questions about anything, please email me or come to the office hours.
I'll use this page to keep students abreast of what we're doing in class. I'll write which sections I'm hoping to cover in each class, and then within a day or two I'll make whatever changes are necessary to reflect what we actually accomplished.
Monday, June 17: Review, section 1.1.
Wednesday, June 19: Section 1.2(vector addition.)
Monday, June 24: Sections 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, Quiz #1.
Wednesday, June 26: Sections 2.1(Only the notion of linear combination), 4.1.
Monday, July 1: Canada Day; no class.
Wednesday, July 3: Sections 4.2, 3.3, 4.3, Quiz #2, Assignment #1 due. Extra office hours at 6:00 pm in Talbot 309.
Monday, July 8: Midterm on everything up to section 4.3. Extra office hours 3:00-5:00 pm in Middlesex 103H, and at 6:00 pm in Talbot 309.
Wednesday, July 10: Sections 4.3, 3.5.
Monday, July 15: Sections 4.4, 4.5, Assignment #2 due.
Wednesday, July 17: Sections 5.1, 5.2.
Monday, July 22: Sections 5.2, 5.5, Quiz #3.
Wednesday, July 24: Sections 5.5, 6.2.
Monday, July 29: Final Exam; 7:00 in Talbot College 342. Extra office hours 2:00-5:00 pm in Middlesex 103H and at 6:00 in Talbot 342.