Math 54, Summer 2010

Instructor: Shuchao Bi
Office: 941 Evans Hall
Email: shuchao@math.berkeley.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 4:30-6:00, Fridays 10:00-11:30 or by appointment
Main Lecture & Discussion Section: MTWTF 8:10-10:00 AM, Room 3105 Etcheverry Hall
Note "the Berkeley time": Class starts at 8:00 means it actually starts at 8:10
Course Webpage: http://math.berkeley.edu/~shuchao/math54.html
Course Description: Basic linear algebra; matrix arithmetic and determinants. Vector spaces; inner product spaces. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors; linear transformations. Homogeneous ordinary differential equations; second-order differential equations with constant coefficients. Fourier series and partial differential equations.
Textbooks:
David Lay, Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 3rd edition
Nagle, Saff and Snider, Fundamentals of Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems
For both you can get the paperback Berkeley editions.
Prerequisites: Math 1A & 1B or equivalent
Grading:
Homework 15%
Quizzes 25%
Midterm 25%
Final 35%
Schedule for Lectures, Homeworks, Quizzes and Exams
Exams:
There will be two in class exams: Midterm on Friday, July 16, Final on Friday, August 13.
Worksheets:
You will form study groups (2-4 people) to work on worksheets during the discussion section. Also, we will randomly have several group quizzes and this study group will be you quiz group.
Homework and Quizzes:
In general, no late homework will be accepted and no make-up quiz will be given. But the lowest 3 homework scores and lowest 2 quiz scores will be dropped.

Collaboration on the homework assignments is welcome. (This is a good way to learn the material.) So is the consultation of other sources, such as other textbooks. However, each student has to write up and hand in their own set of solutions. 
Some Words of Advice:

The material in this class is, for most students taking 54, the bread and butter for many other classes to come later. We will cover many topics in the semester and the pace will be VERY DEMANDING.

Some of you may find the first few weeks rather easy and may be tempted to drop the ball. BAD IDEA. A few lectures later, you will find yourselves lost. Stay focused from day one and you will do well in this class.