If you need to get ahold of me, the best way is through email: elyse@math.ubc.ca.
My office is in the Mathematics Building (behind the Koerner library), room 229F.
Finals Week
Monday, April 9th, 2-5 pm: office hours MATH229F (my office, math building)
Wednesday, April 11th, 2-4 pm: office hours MATHX1118 (the math annex building)
Office hours start on the second week of classes, and end on the last day of classes. They will not be held during holidays or breaks.
That being said, there is an optional textbook: Introduction to Linear Algebra for Science and Engineers, by Norman. If you would like additional problems to practice, this book is a good place to start. Since we're not assigning problems out of it, it doesn't matter which edition you choose. (The second edition has another author as well, but seems more pricey.)
If you'd like a very partial list of things to memorize from the first sections, here's one. Disclaimer: this is not meant to be a complete list of topics, and is not guaranteed to be typo-free. This should be one part of your studying, together with the online notes, learning goals, lectures, and other materials from the main course website such as old exams.
Sections | Topics | Dates | File: formatted for note taking | File: full version from class (caution: large files ) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction | Wed, Jan 3 | 0intro.pdf | ||
2.2, 2.3 | Vectors and coordinates; geometric aspects of vectors | Wed, Jan 3 - Fri, Jan 5 | 1vectorsprint.pdf | 1vectorsfull.pdf |
2.4, 2.5 | Determinants, cross products, parametric equations of lines and planes | Fri, Jan 5 - Mon, Jan 15 | 2determinants_and_planes_print.pdf | 2determinants_and_planes.pdf |
2.6, 3.1 | Geometry of solutions of linear systems; linear dependence and independence; solving linear systems. |
Mon, Jan 15 - Fri, Jan 19 | 3IntroLinearSystemsPrint.pdf | 3IntroLinearSystems.pdf |
3.2-3.4 | Solving linear systems (cont.); echelon form and rank; homogeneous equations and relationship to linear dependence |
Fri, Jan 19- Wed, Jan 24 | 4SolvingLinearSystemsPrint.pdf | 4SolvingLinearSystems.pdf |
3.5 | Resistor Networks | Fri, Jan 26- Wed, Jan 31 | 5CircuitsPrint.pdf On Jan 26, I realized that the package I was using to draw the circuits had updated, instituting "[n]ew voltage counting direction". So... most of the voltages were BACKWARDS in the pictures. I THINK I'VE FIXED THEM ALL--but do let me know if you spot a typo! |
5Circuits.pdf |
3.5, 4.1, 4.2 | matrix multiplication; linear transformations; rotations in 2D | Fri, Feb 02 - Fri, Feb 09 | 6MultAnd LinTransPrint.pdf | 6MultAnd LinTrans.pdf |
4.2, 4.3, 4.4 | Rotations, projections and reflections in 2D; matrix representation and composition of linear transformations; random walks; transpose |
Fri, Feb 09 - Mon, Feb 26 | 7TransformationsRandomWalksPrint.pdf | 7TransformationsRandomWalks.pdf
Video: Probability of Disjoint Events |
4.5, 4.6 | Matrix inverse; determinants | Mon, Feb 26 - Mon, Mar 05 | 8InverseAndDeterminantPrint.pdf | 8InverseAndDeterminant.pdf |
5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 | Complex numbers; complex exponential and polar form | Mon, Mar 05 - Fri, Mar 09 | 9ComplexNumbersPrint.pdf | 9ComplexNumbers.pdf ComplexDeterminantPractice.pdf |
6.1 | Eigenvalues and eigenvectors | Mon, Mar 12- Fri, Mar 16 | 10EigenPrint.pdf | 10Eigen.pdf Overhead notes: complex eigenvalues |
6.1, 6.2 | Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, continued; powers of a matrix; application of eigen-analysis to random walks |
Fri, Mar 16 - Wed, Mar 21 | 11EigenWeiterDruck.pdf EigenReviewPrint.pdf |
11EigenWeiter.pdf
EigenReview.pdf |
6.3 | Vector differential equations | Fri, Mar 23- Wed, Mar 28 | 12DiffEqPrint.pdf | 12DiffEq.pdf
Videos: solving a linear differential equation with both real and complex eigenvalues. |
6.4 | Application of vector DEs to electrical networks | Wed, Apr 4 - Fri, Apr 6 | 13LCRPrint.pdf | 13LCR.pdf |
If you have questions related to your major, like which flavour of calculus you should be taking, OR if you have a major life event that might prevent you from completing the semester, you should talk to your faculty advisor.
UBC provides services to address, among other things: illness and injury, mental health and wellbeing, sexual assault (for people of all genders), other violence, discrimination and harrassment, diversity, disability, and ongoing medical considerations. If you have legal issues, you might be able to get help from the Law Students' Legal Advice Program. The Office of Equity and Inclusion is a good place to go if you want more information about maintaining an environment that is respectful, especially with regards to interculturality, LGBT*QIA status, race, students who are parents, etc. The Office of Access and Diversity provides disability support.
If something comes up during the semester that interferes with your academic progress (such as an illness, or caring for a loved one) contact your faculty advising office as soon as possible. You can find them here.
The province has an excellent website with information on mental health, including an online screening tool and resources: Here To Help. The Vancouver Access & Assessment Centre (AAC) is a point of entry for concerns about mental health and substance abuse, and they also have a call line if you just want to talk to someone. Education is a tool for a better life, from increased earning potential to a heightened appreciation for the beauty and complexity in the world. Your real life extends far beyond the boundaries of this campus. It's important that you don't let your education interfere with your physical or emotional health.
If it isn't feasible to change the thing that's bothering you, we still might be able to come up with strategies for addressing it. At the very least, you can get an explanation of why things are the way they are.