Linear Algebra

MTH 266-001N

Course Content Summary

Annandale Campus

Northern Virginia Community College

Dr. Don Goral

Virginia Community College Course Content Summary

Course Title:  __ MTH 266 Linear Algebra________________________

Course Description

Covers matrices, vector spaces, determinants, solutions of systems of linear equations, basis and dimension, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Designed for mathematical, physical and engineering science programs.

General Course Purpose

The general purpose is to give the student a solid grasp of the methods and applications of linear algebra, and to prepare the student for further coursework in mathematics, engineering, computer science and the sciences.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite:  Completion of MTH 263 or equivalent with a grade of B or better or MTH 264 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

Matrices and Systems of Equations

     Use correct matrix terminology to describes various types and features of matrices (triangular, symmetric, row echelon form, et.al.)

     Use Gauss-Jordan elimination to transform a matrix into reduced row echelon form

     Determine conditions such that a given system of equations will have no solution, exactly one solution, or infinitely many solutions

     Write the solution set for a system of linear equations by interpreting the reduced row echelon form of the augmented matrix, including expressing infinitely many solutions in terms of free parameters

     Write and solve a system of equations modeling real world situations such as electric circuits or traffic flow

Matrix Operations and Matrix Inverses

     Perform the operations of matrix-matrix addition, scalar-matrix multiplication, and matrix-matrix multiplication on real and complex valued matrices

     State and prove the algebraic properties of matrix operations

     Find the transpose of a real valued matrix and the conjugate transpose of a complex valued matrix

     Identify if a matrix is symmetric (real valued)

     Find the inverse of a matrix, if it exists, and know conditions for invertibility.

     Use inverses to solve a linear system of equations

Determinants

     Compute the determinant of a square matrix using cofactor expansion

     State, prove, and apply determinant properties, including determinant of a product, inverse, transpose, and diagonal matrix

     Use the determinant to determine whether a matrix is singular or nonsingular

     Use the determinant of a coefficient matrix to determine whether a system of equations has a unique solution

Norm, Inner Product, and Vector Spaces

     Perform operations (addition, scalar multiplication, dot product) on vectors in Rn and interpret in terms of the underlying geometry

     Determine whether a given set with defined operations is a vector space

Basis, Dimension, and Subspaces

     Determine whether a vector is a linear combination of a given set; express a vector as a linear combination of a given set of vectors

     Determine whether a set of vectors is linearly dependent or independent

     Determine bases for and dimension of vector spaces/subspaces and give the dimension of the space

     Prove or disprove that a given subset is a subspace of Rn

     Reduce a spanning set of vectors to a basis

     Extend a linearly independent set of vectors to a basis

     Find a basis for the column space or row space and the rank of a matrix

     Make determinations concerning independence, spanning, basis, dimension, orthogonality and orthonormality with regards to vector spaces

Linear Transformations

     Use matrix transformations to perform rotations, reflections, and dilations in Rn

     Verify whether a transformation is linear

     Perform operations on linear transformations including sum, difference and composition

     Identify whether a linear transformation is one-to-one and/or onto and whether it has an inverse

     Find the matrix corresponding to a given linear transformation T: Rn -> Rm

     Find the kernel and range of a linear transformation

     State and apply the rank-nullity theorem

     Compute the change of basis matrix needed to express a given vector as the coordinate vector with respect to a given basis

Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

     Calculate the eigenvalues of a square matrix, including complex eigenvalues.

     Calculate the eigenvectors that correspond to a given eigenvalue, including complex eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

     Compute singular values

     Determine if a matrix is diagonalizable

     Diagonalize a matrix

 

Major Topics to be Included

Matrices and Systems of Equations

Matrix Operations and Matrix Inverses

Determinants

Norm, Inner Product, and Vector Spaces

Basis, Dimension, and Subspaces

Linear Transformations

Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors






Page revised 05/30/21

Contact Dr. Goral at dgoral@nvcc.edu




 

 

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