MATH 3130 (Sect. 002) Introduction to Linear Algebra
Spring 2016
Instructor: Gene Abrams
Contact Info: Office: EAS 288
Phone: 255-3182
email abrams@math.uccs.edu
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 - 1:30pm and 4:30 - 5:00pm, and by
appointment (please take this seriously!!)
Text: Elementary Linear Algebra by Anton, 11th edition.
Course Web Site: Homework assignments and important dates (e.g. exam dates) will be
posted on the course web site
http://www.uccs.edu/~gabrams/Math3130Spring2016/CourseMainPageMath3130Spring2016.html
You can also access this site from the math department homepage http://mathweb.uccs.edu ,
click on Faculty, then on Gene Abrams, then on the Linear Algebra Math 3130 link.
Quiz and Exams: There will be one 30-minute quiz, covering most of Chapters 1 and 2.
It will count for 10% of your course grade, and will happen on Tuesday, February 9. There will
be three 75-minute exams throughout the semester. Here is a pretty good idea of when exams
will happen; their exact dates, and the exact material which they will cover, will be announced
well in advance. Each of the 75 minute exams carries equal weight. They are each worth 25%
of your course grade. Missed exams will be scored as a zero.
Exam I:
around Thursday, March 10
Chapter 4
Exam II:
around Thursday, April 7
Chapter 8
Exam III:
Thuraday, May 12*
Chapters 5,6
*Exam III will happen during the Final Exam period, which is Thursday, May 12, from 12:40 –
2:40pm. The exam will be given at 1:20 that day. NOTE THE STARTING TIME OF THE
FINAL IS EARLIER THAN THE USUAL STARTING TIME OF THE CLASS.
Homework: Homework is worth 15% of your course grade. There will be a new
homework assignment given almost every day of the class. Normally, the two homework
assignments given during one week will both be due on the Thursday of the following week. The
homework you submit should be complete, on time, and with all work shown. There will be
approximately ten problems assigned each day to be submitted. Each assignment will be graded
on a 5 point scale. I encourage you to use any types of resources in order to complete the
homework, e.g. instructor, Supplemental Instruction, classmates, etc. The only real stipulation is
that you actually write down the answers to your own homework assignment (e.g., no xeroxing
of others' assignments). Late homework will be marked down by a factor of 1/2. Homework
will not be accepted more than two class sessions after the date it was due.
(over)
Calculators: On homework and exams you will be allowed to use a NON-graphing
calculator with a minimal number of storage registers, and no QWERTY keyboard. Calculators
will not be needed for exams.
Mathematics Center: The Math Center is a study space for all students on campus,
whether you need a little help, a lot of help, or none at all. They have a staff of about 20 tutors
who have taken at least through Calculus 3, and who have been trained to work with students one
on one. Many of the tutors in the Math Center have significant experience with the Math 3130
material. The center is a great place to sit on your own or with classmates, work on homework,
study for exams, review concepts from previous classes, or just check your homework answers.
The Math Center is located in Engineering 233, and is open Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 7:00
pm, Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, and online (to be announced).
Come in, sign in, and have a seat. If you have a question, raise your hand and a tutor will come
to you. You can find the schedule of tutors, and a lot more information about the center at the
Math Center’s webpage
http://www.uccs.edu/~mathcenter/
PASSessions: A Peer Assisted Study Session (PASS) component is provided in this course for
all students who want to improve their understanding of the material. PASS sessions are led by a
student who has already mastered the course material and has been trained to facilitate group
sessions where students can meet to compare class notes, review and discuss important concepts,
develop strategies for studying, and prepare for exams. Attendance at PASS sessions is free and
voluntary. Students may attend as many times as they choose. Students who regularly attend
PASS sessions earn, on average, a letter grade higher than students who do not attend. PASS
sessions begin the first or second week of class and continue throughout the semester. A session
schedule will be announced in class. For information about the program and session
schedule/updates, visit
http://www.uccs.edu/mathcenter/peer-assisted-study-sessions.html
The PASS session leader for this course is Ms. Ikko Saito. The sessions will be held:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:20 - 1:50pm, Columbine Hall Room 105
Grading system: “Guaranteed minimum grading”. If you get at least 90% of the total
points in this course, you are guaranteed of earning AT LEAST an A-. Similarly, at least 80%
guarantees you of AT LEAST a B-, at least 70% guarantees you of at least a C-, and at least 60%
guarantees you of not getting an F. This system is meant to remove any worry that any of your
group work, or appropriate out-of-class cooperation on work, could in any way jeopardize your
own grade.



Important administrative dates:
Last date to drop the course without any mention of it on your permanent transcript is
Wednesday, February 3.
No classes during Spring Break, which is March 21 through March 25.
The last date to drop this course is Friday, April 1. (My signature or the math department
chairman’s signature is required).