Class Diary for M251, Fall 2013, Jochen Denzler


Wed Aug 21: Intro. Linear equations. Systematic elimination procedure. Coefficient and Augmented matrix
Fri Aug 23: Matrices and names for parts thereof. Elementary row operations and row echelon form, and how they relate to elimination from equations. Hwk: 1-9 due Wed. You need to read up on Gauss and Gauss-Jordan in book (or wait for Mon) do do numbers 4,5,
Mon Aug 26: Gauss-Jordan and reduced row echelon form. Sneak preview about Matrix algebra. Def of matrix addition and multiplication. Hwk: read up on transpose of matrix
Wed Aug 28: Hints re hwk pblm 6; extension as needed. Writing SLE's as matrix equations. Algebra of matrix operations, non-commutativity. Hwk: 11-19 due Wed (ignore 2nd paragraph `Also write...' in pblm 16)
Fri Aug 30: Proof of associative law for matrix multiplication; identity matrix. Def. of inverse matrix and preview of facts about it.
Mon Sep 02: LABOR DAY
Wed Sep 04: Inverse matrix: uniqueness; how to calculate in practice.
Fri Sep 06: Example of inv matrix calculation; Properties of inverse matrix; elementary matrices begun. Hwk 20-26 due Wed
Mon Sep 09: Elementary matrices used; If AB=I, then BA=I automatically (for square matrices). Quick preview LU decomposition
Wed Sep 11: LU decomposition in detail
Fri Sep 13: Theoretical issues about the inverse. (Ax=b uniquely solvable if and only if A is invertible). Hwk 32 due Wed
Mon Sep 16: Thm 1.6.4 from book. Symmetric matrices. Geometric vectors in plane and space, and how to add them. Hwk 27-32 due Fri (32 extended from Wed for logistics reasons)
Wed Sep 18: Geometric vectors and their identification with 2x1 or 3x1 matrices. Dot product introduced.
Fri Sep 20: Dot product algebraically vs geometrically. Example for calculating angles. Cross product quickly defined algebraically; occurrences in physics mentioned. Hwk: Consider all problems from the hwk sheet for Ch 3 as assigned. They will not be collected for grading. I'll post solutions soon. As of now you're able to do all problems but #9. The ones with the cross product will come easier after Monday. -- Also read the notes on `points vs vectors' as handed out today, and posted on the website
Mon Sep 23: Geometric characterization of cross products. Right hand rule. Cross product as area of parallelogram. Scalar triple product started as volume of parallelepiped.
Wed Sep 25: Geometric role of scalar triple product explained in detail; review for exam; 1x1, 2x2 and 3x3 determinants arising as formulas for oriented length, area and volume respectively.
Fri Sep 27: EXAM 1 Hwk: make sure to review the 1x1, 2x2, 3x3 determinant notes from the end of Wed class by Monday
Mon Sep 30: Quick review of 2x2 and 3x3 determinants and general pattern of nxn determinants. Abstract definition of nxn determinant as sum/difference of products; sign of a permutation by either counting inversions, or counting swaps.
Wed Oct 02: Basic rules about determinants, specifically under row operations.
Fri Oct 04: Examples for determinants by row and column operation. Hwk 1-9 due Wed. Exam back.
Mon Oct 07: Expansion of rows and columns and how to combine them conveniently with row and column operations for effective calculation; A invertible exactly if det A not 0.
Wed Oct 09: Q&A. det (AB) = (det A)(det B) explained. Hwk Ch 1 #33-34 due Mon general explanations to this theoretical style of questions.
Fri Oct 11: adjoint of a matrix. Ainverse = adj A / det A
Mon Oct 14: Cramer's rule, and when it is or is not efficient to use.
Wed Oct 16: Hwk: remaining problems for Ch.~2 due Wed Introduction to real vector spaces; R^n; vector space of mxn matrices; vector space of real functions.
Fri Oct 18: FALL BREAK
Mon Oct 21: Vector space of functions, explanations. --- Matrix operations started. Hwk 1-6 on matrix operations due Monday; more to be assigned Wed.
Wed Oct 23: composition of matrix operations corresponds to multiplication of matrices. Reflections started.
Fri Oct 25: Reflections, Projections and 2dim rotations. Examples where Ax is a multiple of x. Hwk: remaining problems on matrix operations due Fri
Mon Oct 28: Eigenvectors and eigenvalues; rotations in space by orthogonal matrices begun
Wed Oct 30: Orthogonal matrices
Fri Nov 01: Some hwk hints; vector spaces resumed (beginning of Ch. 4 in book); subspaces; examples. Linear combinations.
Mon Nov 04: Linearly independent; spanning; basis; dimension
Wed Nov 06: Examples of Linear independence in various vector spaces. Hwk 0-7 on Abstract Vector Spaces Ch 4.1-8 (formerly Ch.~5) due Fri Nov 15
Fri Nov 08: EXAM 2
Mon Nov 11: Basis and coordinate vector with respect to basis. Exam back.
Wed Nov 13: (subst) Discussion of Hwk questions
Fri Nov 15: (subst)
Mon Nov 18: Eigenvalues; characteristic polynomial; trace equals sum of eigenvalues, determinant equal product of eigenvalues.
Wed Nov 20: Calculation of eigenvectors; algebraic vs geometric multiplicity. Without proof: geom mult <= algebraic multiplicity. Without proof: symmetric matrices have only real eigenvalues
Fri Nov 22:
Mon Nov 25: EXAM 3
Wed Nov 27:
Fri Nov 29: THANKSGIVING BREAK
Mon Dec 02:
Wed Dec 04: STUDY DAY
Tue Dec 10: FINAL EXAM 12:30-02:30 (scheduled by university policy as a function of class meeting time)

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