MATH 165

Linear Algebra with Differential Equations

Course Description

This course spends about two thirds of the semester covering basic linear algebra and one third of the semester on differential equations. Applications to physical, engineering, and life sciences. Topics covered include matrix algebra and inverses, Gaussian elimination and solving systems of linear equations, determinants, vector spaces, linear dependence, bases, dimension, eigenvalue problems. First order differential equations including separable equations and linear equations. Linear nth order differential equations with constant coefficients, undetermined coefficients, first order linear homogenous systems of differential equations.

Prerequisites: MTH 162, 143, or 172. This is a strict prerequisite; MTH 162 and 165 cannot be taken concurrently. MTH 164 is not a prerequisite for MTH 165.

This course follows the College credit hour policy for four-credit courses. This course meets 3 academic hours per week. Students may also be expected to deepen their understanding of the course material through close examination/evaluation of the readings assigned in the course.

Textbook

Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (4th edition) by Goode and Annin.

Instructors:

Minsik Han: E-mail: minsik dot han at rochester dot edu; Office: Hylan 908; Lectures: MW 10:25-11:40 AM in Goergen 101 (165-01) MW 3:25-4:40 PM in Dewey 2-162 (165-03); Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:00 PM in Hylan 908, or by appointment; No office hours on Monday, Nov 11
Neeraja Kulkarni: E-mail: nkulkar7 at ur dot rochester dot edu; Office: Hylan 1001; Lectures: TR 12:30-1:45 PM in Lattimore 201; Office Hours: WF 3:00-4:30 PM in Hylan 1001
Zheng Zhu: E-mail: zzhu32 at ur dot rochester dot edu; Lectures: MW 2:00-3:15 PM via Zoom (Zoom link on Blackboard); Office Hours: MW 9:30-11:00 AM via Zoom

Teaching Assistants: (They are also our graders.)

James Iler: Study Hall: Thursdays 6:30-8:00 PM in Hylan 1106B; Office hour: Tuesdays 2:00-3:00 PM in Hylan 910
Sreedev Manikoth: Study Hall: Tuesdays 7:00-8:30 PM in Hylan 1106A; Office hour: Thursdays 5:00-6:00 PM in Hylan 910

Exams and Grading

There will be two midterms and a final exam at the following times:

First Midterm

Tuesday, October 8th at 8:00-9:15 AM (75 minutes)

Location:

Section 165-03 (Prof. Han, MW 3:25-4:40 PM): Wegman 1400
All other sections: Hubbell Auditorium (Hutchison 141)

Second Midterm

Thursday, November 14th at 8:00-9:15 AM (75 minutes)

Location: Same as Midterm 1

Final Exam

Friday, December 13th at 4:00-7:00 PM (180 minutes)

Location:

Section 165-03 (Prof. Han, MW 3:25-4:40 PM): Lander Auditorium (Hutchison 140)
All other sections: Hubbell Auditorium (Hutchison 141)

The Final will consist of two parts, Part A (10%) covering the material of the midterms and Part B (20%) covering the material since midterm 2. Your Final Part A score will replace your worst midterm score (but not both) if it is better. It always counts for the Final score so must be taken even if one does not need to replace a midterm score.

Your grade for the course will be based on your performance on exams and homework assignments:

Two Midterm Exams 20% each.
Final Exam 30% (Part A: 10%, Part B: 20%)
12 WeBWorK assignments 25%
Best 9 out of 12 Written Homework assignments 5%

MAKEUP EXAMS WILL BE RARE AND ONLY GIVEN FOR TRULY GENUINE EMERGENCIES WITH FORMAL DOCUMENTATION.

If a student misses a midterm whether it be for medical or other reason, they would be expected to use Part A of the final as its replacement.

You will NOT be permitted calculators or other electronic devices (iPhone, smart watches, etc.) on any exams. You will NOT be permitted books, notes, or cheat sheet on any exams.

Incomplete “I” grades are almost never given. The only justification is a documented serious medical problem or a genuine personal/family emergency. Falling behind in this course or problems with workload on other courses are not acceptable reasons.

Homework

Homework comes in three forms. You may discuss homework problems with other students, but your submitted work must be your own. You may consult your text, your instructors, the course TAs, and the grad students in the study hall, but you may not search for solutions on the internet.

The first is WeBWork exercises, due Fridays at 11:59 PM. To access webwork click the “Webwork link” on Blackboard site. WeBWorK problems count for 25% of the total grade. NO WEBWORK SETS WILL BE DROPPED. All 12 webwork homework sets count for approximately 2% course grade each. Please note that extensions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. A crowded schedule or minor illness are NOT valid reasons to ask for an extension. If you know you will be absent from school for an extended period, inform your instructor as early as possible so arrangements can be made. Please ask questions about WeBWork exercises well before they are due using the “Ask Webwork TA” button on each problem; see here for more details.
Secondly, there will be a weekly Written HW posted here: homework. Written HW assignments count for 5% of the total grade. Since WeBWork cannot grade the quality of your explanations, the written HW serves this purpose. If you do not show your steps and reasoning, you will not receive credit. Written HW assignments are due Fridays at 11:59 PM and must be uploaded to Gradescope. The first written HW will be due in the third week of classes on Friday, Sep 13. Only the best 9 out of 12 written homework assignments count and each counts for approximately 0.55% of course grade. You are permitted to collaborate with peers, but you must include a list of the names of these peers at the top of your homework.
For extra practice, optional homework problems are listed as supplementary exercises in each week’s folder in the learning modules on Blackboard. These problems do not count towards the grade.

It would be easy to find solutions to the Written HW online, but it would also be very foolish. If you are caught doing so, you will be charged with an academic honesty violation and the penalty will be severe. Written HW has very little impact on your grade—only 5%. Its utility is in helping you to learn the material in greater depth. This will in turn help you do well on exams. To copy a friend’s solution or copy from the internet only harms you. (If the distinction between copying and collaboration is unclear to you, please ask your instructor about it.)

Disability Support

If you have an academic need related to a disability, arrangements can be made to accomodate most needs. For information, please contact the Office of Disability Resources. To be granted alternate testing accommodations, you (the student) must fill out forms with this office at least seven days before each and every exam. These forms are not sent automatically. Instructors are not able to make any accommodations without prior approval from the office of disability services.

Academic Integrity Statement

All assignments and activities associated with this course must be performed in accordance with the University of Rochester’s Academic Honesty Policy. Any violation of academic integrity will be pursued according to the specified procedures.

In this course, on homework, you may collaborate with other students also taking the course. You may also use resources such as study group discussions, study halls, office hours, and any online learning materials aside from direct solution sets. You may also talk to students outside the class or tutors as long as they provide only general guidance and you write up the solution on your own at the end. In all cases, you must always internalize the work . This means that after finishing the homework, you should be able to reproduce the solution of problems without any help from anyone or the use of outside resources besides the textbook and a basic calculator. Remember, homework is only 30 percent of the grade and is meant to help
you to learn the material so you can be prepared for the exams and your future work.

For written homework, please write the name of collaborators on the top of the first page of your submission.

During exams, you may not obtain help from anyone else nor use any notes, book or electronic device such as phone, calculator, computer etc.

To summarize:

Webwork: Collaboration allowed.
Written Homework: Collaboration allowed, and must be stated.
Midterms and Final: Collaboration not allowed.