Course Syllabus for Math 54

TTh 9:30--11:00, P. Vojta, Spring 2009

To be kept for the whole semester

Texts:

Lay, Linear algebra and its applications, 3rd edition or Berkeley paperback edition;
Nagle, Saff, & Snider, Fundamentals of differential equations and boundary value problems, 4th edition or Berkeley paperback edition.

Prof. Vojta's office:

883 Evans

Prof. Vojta's office hours:

TTh 11:10-12:00, W 1-2

Course web page:

http://math.berkeley.edu/~vojta/54.html

General information concerning the syllabus:

1. You are requested to do the assigned reading before each lecture. Note that mathematical texts are not meant to be read like novels: very often you will come across passages that must be read many times before they make sense to you. In fact, you may find yourself stuck on one sentence for 30 minutes or longer. This does not happen often, but when it does, don't be unduly alarmed. Being stuck there means there is probably a gap in your understanding. Just be glad you find this out now instead of during an exam.
2. The reading for weeks 1-9 is in Lay; for weeks 10-15, in Nagle-Saff-Snider.
3. Never fall behind in this course, either in the reading assignments or in the homework assignments. Mathematics has the peculiar characteristic that each step is built on the preceding one, so the failure to understand one step would likely mean the failure to understand all the steps that follow.
4. Problem sets get rather heavy at times. This is intentional. Sometimes there is simply no substitute for repetitive drills. Problem (and reading) assignments are subject to change.
5. Homeworks for a given week will be due in your discussion section, on the Wednesday of the following week. Answers will be distributed in a manner to be announced later.
6. Quizzes will be given in discussion sessions approximately every other week.
7. There will be two midterms, 2/19 and 4/2, held during normal class hours. The rooms will be announced shortly before the midterms.

Things worth knowing:

1. For enrollment questions (e.g., getting into a section or switching sections), please email Barbara Peavy, peavy@math.berkeley.edu.
2. The course grade will be computed essentially as follows:

   10%	Midterm I
   20%	Midterm II
   25%	Work in section (e.g., quizzes and homeworks)
   45%	Final Exam

3. Do not take this course if you have a conflict in the final exam schedule (check the ``exam group numbers'' of your courses in the Schedule of Classes). This course is in exam group 10: Monday, May 18, 8-11am.

Weekly Reading and Homework