Math 243 – Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential
Equations – Syllabus
University of Maryland, College Park – Fall 2026
August 29, 2026
NOTE: This syllabus is specific to Sections 02xx of Math 2431. Each instructor sets their own
policies. Please consult your instructor’s syllabus if you are in a different section.
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Contact Information
Instructor: Dr. Allan Yashinski
Email: ayashins@umd.edu
Office: 4113 Kirwan Hall (Math Building)
Office Hours: An Office Hours schedule for Allan and all of the TAs is posted in ELMS. You are
welcome to attend the office hours of any of the teaching assistants (not just the one who runs your
discussion session).
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Teaching Assistants
Sections
0211, 0221
0212, 0222
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Name
Tianrui Sheng
Kaiwen Tan
Email
trsheng@umd.edu
kt2354@umd.edu
Office
PHY 2111
MTH 3301
ELMS/Canvas
ELMS/Canvas will be used extensively throughout the course. This syllabus, along with assignments and grades will be posted in ELMS. You will submit some of your assignments, through
ELMS (via Gradescope). Our ELMS course page will essentially function as the course website. To
access ELMS, go to http://elms.umd.edu, and log in using your UMD username and password.
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Textbook
The textbook is Differential Equations & Linear Algebra by Edwards, Penney, and Calvis, 4th
edition. The lectures (as well as the general course outline) will follow the textbook closely. We
will cover material from chapters 1-10. A tentative day-by-day schedule is posted in ELMS.
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Class Format
The class meets five days a week for both lecture and discussion sessions. You are expected to
attend every class, though attendance will not be formally taken. Lectures occur on Mon/Wed/Fri
11:00 - 11:50, in PHY 1410, and discussion sessions meet every Tuesday and Thursday.
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Recorded Lectures
Every lecture will be recorded using the built-in classroom equipment. The recorded lectures will be
posted in ELMS (under ”Panopto Recordings”). They can be watched and rewatched throughout
the entire semester.
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Discussion Session
The class is divided into several small sections which meet with a teaching assistant every Tuesday
and Thursday. Please consult your schedule for the time and location of your discussion session.
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Homework
Homework is essential to the learning process in any math class. Homework problems will be
assigned for each section of the textbook that we cover, but they will not be collected or graded.
Mathematics is learned by doing, not by watching. You need to do the homework problems if you
want to succeed. The homework problem list will be posted in ELMS.
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Quizzes
Roughly once per week, there will be a 10-minute quiz held at the end of the discussion session.
At the end of the semester, your lowest quiz score will be dropped.
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Midterm Exams
There will be two 50-minute midterm exams, given during lecture on the following dates:
Exam 1 – Monday, October 5
Exam 2 – Friday, November 20
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Final Exam
There will be a cumulative final exam. It will be held on Monday, December 14 from 4:00pm
– 6:00. You must be present for the final exam. Do not make plans to leave before
the final exam.
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Excused Absences for Exams
Makeup exams will only be offered in the case of an excused absence. See the link in “University
Policies” below for a description of what constitutes an excused absence. To be excused, the
student must notify the instructor well in advance (or as soon as possible in the case of illness or
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emergency). Additionally, the student must provide proper documentation justifying the absence.
The makeup exam must be timely and it will occur at a time and place agreed upon by the student
and instructor.
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Calculators
Calculators may NOT be used on exams.
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MATLAB Projects
There will be two Matlab projects during the semester. These will involve applications of the
techniques and methods learned in lecture. of using Python instead of Matlab, if you prefer.
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Grades
A final grade will be determined based on the following breakdown:
Quizzes – 16%
MATLAB Projects – 8% (4% each)
Midterm Exams – 38% (19% each)
Final Exam – 38%
Listed below are the lower cutoffs for final letter grades:
Letter Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
Percent Score
at least 97%
at least 93%
at least 90%
at least 87%
at least 83%
at least 80%
at least 77%
at least 73%
at least 70%
at least 60%
below 60%
I reserve the right to decrease the lower cutoffs if I feel that it is appropriate based on the overall
class performance. For example, this may happen if the average scores for the exams are much
lower than I expected. This is curving, which is not something you should count on happening. If
it does, it will happen at the end of the semester, after all grades have been computed. Individual
exams or assignments will not be curved throughout the semester. I will never increase the cutoffs
in the table, which means that curving cannot hurt your grade.
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Getting Help: Office Hours
The updated office hours schedule will be posted in ELMS. The main point of office hours
is for us to help you when you are stuck or are having difficulty understanding the material. I
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strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity whenever you can. You should never
feel ashamed or embarrassed about seeking help or asking questions. We will always be happy to
help.
Remember that the TA office hours will be open to all students in sections 02xx. You can
attend the office hours of any of the TAs.
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Artificial Intelligence
The use of AI tools (for example ChatGPT) on assignments is prohibited.
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Policies and Resources for Undergraduate Courses
It is our shared responsibility to know and abide by the University of Maryland’s policies that
relate to all courses, which include topics like:
• Academic integrity
• Conduct
• Accessibility and accommodations
• Harassment
• Attendance and excused absences
• Grades and appeals
• Copyright and intellectual property
Please visit http://www.ugst.umd.edu/courserelatedpolicies.html for the full list of campuswide policies prepared by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, and follow up with me if you have
questions.
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Disability Support
The University provides accommodations for students with disabilities. To receive accommodations,
students must first register with the campus’ Accessibility and Disability Service (ADS) and have
their disabilities documented by ADS. The ADS office then prepares an Accommodation Letter for
course instructors regarding needed accommodations. Students are responsible for presenting this
letter to their instructors by the end of the drop/add period.
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Digital Accessibility
If you have any issues with accessibility and course materials, please inform the course instructor
so that these issues can be addressed.
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University Closures and Delays
For information about official University closures and delays due to inclement weather, consult the
campus website http://www.umd.edu or the weather emergency phone line 301-405-7669. In the
event that inclement weather affects a class meeting, exam date, or assignment due date, I will
contact you through announcements in ELMS.
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