MATH 4164, INDEX No. 93651
FALL 2005, RAND 116
MW 2:30-3:45PM
letzter@math.vt.edu
COURSE CONTRACT
Text: The text is
the set of notes Linear Methods in Discrete
Mathematics, by Dr.
Farkas. These notes can be found
by clicking here.
Prerequisites: Math 3034
and Math 3134
Course
Content: Math 4164 will
introduce the student to advanced
topics in
discrete mathematics with a special emphasis on linear
algebra
techniques. Much of the material
we will cover is based on
applications
in industry and government. The
course is intended to
give the
student an idea of how best to use the fundamentals of
linear
algebra in a variety of settings.
Homework:
There will be three
extended exercise sets due on
and a
project/presentation due on Wednesday, November 30. A description
of the
project can be found here.The proposal
for the project is due
on Wednesday,
November 2.
At least one
exercise set must be done individually, for the rest you
may work in
pairs. You will receive one of
three grades for each
assignment
– A, B, or do it again. (I am less inclined to give an
A for a late
assignment.) The highest grade possible for resubmitted homework
is a
B+. The project will be discussed
in detail in the middle of October.
It is worth
two grades with one for content in your write-up and the other grade for how
you
communicate
your project in class.
Presentations will take place during class
(after
Thanksgiving) and during the final exam time (Monday, December 12,
3:25-5:25pm).
Attendance
at all presentations is expected and will be part of your presentation
grade.
Your total
grade will be the average of these five grades.
Class attendance
and participation are crucial to this class. I will be
supplementing
the material found in the textbook. Sporadic attendance
will make it
very difficult for you to succeed in the course.
Office Hours: My office hours are
Wed 12:15-2:15pm, Wed. 4:00-4:30pm,
Fri. 12:00pm-2:00pm,
and by appointment.