MATH 343
Elementary Linear Algebra
A Great and Enjoyable Class!!!!
WELCOME
Professor: Vianey Villamizar
Office: 366 TMCB
Math 343 – 7
Elementary Linear Algebra
Winter Semester 2004
Class: 12:00 - 12:50 p.m. MWF C261 ESC
Email/Phone: vianey@math.byu.edu / 422-1754
Web page: www.math.byu.edu/~vianey
Office Hours: M-W 5:00-6:00 (office), Fr 2:00-3:00 (Math lab) or by appointment.
Grader: Jed Bailey jpb47@email.byu.edu
Text: Elementary Linear Algebra, Eighth Edition, H. Anton and C. Rorres, Wiley 2000.
South
America
Education and Experience
EDUCATION
• Bs, Ms Universidad Central de Venezuela (Caracas, Venezuela)
• PhD Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York)
TEACHING AND RESEARCH
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1 year)
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (2 years)
Universidad Central de Venezuela (10 years)
New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey (1 year)
Brigham Young University (3 years)
Education and Experience
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At BYU, I have taught:
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Math 334. Ordinary Differential Equs.
Math 311. Num. Analysis
Math 214. Multivariable Calculus.
Math 511. Num. Soln. Of Partial Diff. Equs
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Research interest:
Numerical and Asymptotic Methods Applied to Linear and Nonlinear Partial
Differential and Integral Equations
Wave Propagation: Acoustic, Electromagnetic, and Elastic Scattering.
Modelling and Numerical Solution of Oil
Pipeline Transient Fluid Equation.
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History of BYU
It has been said the Saints will be saviors upon
Mount Zion, that they are destined to redeem the
world. Redeem the world from what? From the
thralldom of sin, ignorance, and degradation! In
order to do this, Zion will have to take the lead in
everything and consequently also in education
…
Karl G. Maeser
BYU Mission
The mission of Brigham Young
University founded, supported, and
guided by The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints is
“To assist individuals in their quest for
perfection and eternal life. “
Aims of a BYU Education
• Spiritually Strengthening.
•
Intellectually Enlarging.
• Character Building, Leading to
• Lifelong Learning and Service
Syllabus
Homework
• You are strongly encouraged to work on
homework problems everyday. You should
be willing to put in at least two hours
outside the classroom for each hour of
class.
• Late homework won’t be accepted. To
make up for this, your four lowest
homework grades will be dropped
Exams
• The best way to prepare for the exams is to go over the
homework problems and the examples worked in class
(they constitute your best study guide) and then try to
solve related problems that you haven’t seen before.
• If you can reach the point where you can do fresh
problems without help in all sections, I can anticipate that
you will be able to successfully solve all problems on the
midterms and final exam.
Test Difficulty
• Best advice: 1 Corinthians 10:13
…God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Application to Math 214
…God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tested above
that ye are able; but will with the exam also make a way
for you to study hard, that ye may be able to obtain a
good grade.
Levels of Learning
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Level 1: Remember.
Level 2: Understand.
Level 3: Apply
Level 4: Analyze
Level 5: Evaluate
Level 6: Create
Learning at the University Level
High School Level
University Level
• Reproduce Class
• Apply what is learned to
new situations
• Much learning occurs
outside classroom
• Instructor guides students
• Class is everything
• Instructor programs
students
• Almost no readings
• Slow-paced style
• Read for comprehension.
Many hours.
• Fast-paced style
Teaching and Learning Mathematics
• A goal more important than teaching a set of
theorems is to develop in students the ability to
understand and manipulate the objects of linear
algebra.
• Mathematics can be learned only by doing.
• Don’t expect to read mathematics the way you
read a novel. If you zip through a page in less
than an hour you are probably going too fast.
Linear Algebra Done Right
by Sheldon Axler
Adversary
• Who is your adversary in this class?
• Prof. Vianey Villamizar
• Yourself
• The Material
Last Year Students Comments
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005 I was worried at first about taking this class from Professor Vilimazar, but I was
pleasantly suprised. He did an excellent job of explaining things, seemed genuinely
concerned that we learn the material, and was always avaliable to help. He is by far
the best math Professor I have had at BYU. Thanks for a great learning experience.
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002 I didn't rate this class very high because I haven't been able to focus on the
material and therefore didn't enjoy it. I guess that's mainly my fault...
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005 Dr. Villamizar is a very considerate and helpful teacher. His testimony radiates in
his teaching and his actions. I am also impressed with the way he sets the class up,
especially the homework system he employs. I'll admit, though, that I had a hard time
following the concepts in class, and spent a lot of time "home-schooling" myself in
this course.
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005 Frankly, I would NOT recommend him to even my worst enemies. …
I also feel that he makes the course more difficult than it needs to be
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002 Great class. I was inspired by his love of the material. At first I found the class
very tasking, but his enthusiasm gradually won me over and I found myself enjoying
the assignments and lectures.
Motivation to Learn
Love of Learning
“The more I consider what learning is,
the more I see it as a sacred
privilege, an act of wonder. I believe
that when we are learning we feel
most alive. When we are learning we
feel closest to God”
Russ Osguthorpe, 1996
My Challenge
Love of Learners
“If we want to influence learners for good,
we should not merely love to teach; we
should love each person we teach.”
Teaching, No greater Call, 1999
Pres. G. B. Hinckley 1992
This institution is unique. It is remarkable. It is a
continuing experiment on a great premise that a large
complex university can be first-class academically while
nurturing an environment of faith in God and the practice
of Christian principle.
You are testing whether academic excellence and belief
in the Divine can walk hand in hand.
And the wonderful thing is that you are succeeding in
showing that this is possible. Not only that it is possible ,
but that it is desirable and the products of this effort
show in your lives qualities that are not otherwise
attainable.
BYU Devotional Oct 13, 1992
Pres. G. B. Hinckley
Here we are doing what is not done in any
other major university of which I am
aware.
We are demonstrating that faith in the
almighty can accompany and enrich
scholarship in the secular. It is more than
an experiment. It is an accomplishment.