Math 250B: Fall 2009

Course Information

Instructor: Dr. Scott Annin
Class Number:  13950   (MW 5:30 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.)        Class Room: MH 442
Office: McCarthy 33A                                                           Office Phone: 657-278-7678

Office Hours

Mondays: 11:00 - 12:00 noon, 4:00 - 5:30, and 7:30 - 9:30 pm

Tuesdays: 7:00 - 9:00 pm (at Del Taco, on St. College and Nutwood)

Wednesdays: 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 7:30 - 8:30 pm

Fridays: 11:00 - 12:00 noon

Note: If these times are not convenient for you, you are always welcome to set up another appointment with me outside of my regular office hours. Also, you are always welcome to drop by anytime without an appointment to see if I'm available.

E-Mail: sannin@fullerton.edu
Webpage Address: http://math.fullerton.edu/sannin

Note:  The webpage will be VERY important for the operation of this course.  You must go to the webpage regularly to find homework assignments, solutions, and other course materials and announcements.

Text:  Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (3rd edition), 2007, by S. Annin and S. Goode

Course Description:  Introduction to the solutions of ordinary differential equations and their relationship to linear algebra. Topics include matrix algebra, determinants, systems of linear equations, vector spaces, linear independence, bases, linear transformations, eigenvalues, and systems of differential equations

Grading:  Homework and Quizzes (15 %) Two Midterms (20 % each), Final Exam (40 %).  Whichever of the four components of your grade (homework/quiz, midterm 1, midterm 2, or final) is highest will receive an extra 5% weight in your course grade computation. Also, I reserve the right to raise or lower your class percentage by 2-3% on the basis of a qualitative measure that I call "qualitative performance" (see below). Note:  University policy allows for plus/minus grades to be given, and I will use them as appropriate.

Exams: The dates of the tests are: 

Test Dates

First Midterm

Wednesday, October 7

Second Midterm

Wednesday, November 18

Final Exam

 Monday, December 14     (5:00 – 7:00 pm)

Note: In-class exams are closed book, closed notes, closed calculators. No make-up exams are allowed, so check your schedule now to ensure that you have no time conflicts with the above exam schedule.

Important Dates pertaining to Withdrawal:

·        Tuesday, September 8: Last day to drop without grade of “W”.  Students drop by using New Titan Online.

·        Friday, October 2: Last day the Math Department will be flexible on the approval of late withdrawal requests.  Beginning Monday, October 5, students must have a serious and compelling reason for withdrawing (e.g. medical reason) and must provide supporting written documentation for their reason (poor academic performance does not constitute such a reason).

·        Friday, November 13: Last day to withdraw with a truly serious and compelling reason that is clearly beyond the student’s control.  Students must document their reason.

Holidays: No classes on Monday, September 7 (Labor Day) and during the week of November 23-27 (Thanksgiving Break). 

 

Furlough Days: As you are probably aware, CSUF’s budget for this year has been significantly reduced affecting all areas of the campus.  Faculty and staff are required to take furlough days without pay meaning that instruction and usual services will be disrupted at various times during the year.  This semester, the Math Department Office will be closed on designated staff furlough days, which are posted outside MH54.  Further, classes will not meet formally on those days where a furlough day is observed by the instructor.  The specific days when a class will not meet will vary from course section to course section and instructor to instructor. For this class, the furlough dates are Wednesday, September 9, Wednesday, October 21, and Monday, November 30. These days have been identified in the course syllabus. Class will not meet those dates, but an alternative assignment and suggestions for study on these dates will be given.  This is a very difficult time for all of us.  We are working to provide the best education possible given the resources available to us.

Homework and Quizzes: Homework assignments will be due to the envelope outside of my office door by 10:00 p.m. on the date it is due.  Please print your name, my name, and your class time at the top right corner on the first page of each assignment and always STAPLE your assignment before turning it in.  At least one assignment will be due per week, but two assignments in a given week is also possible. No late papers can be accepted. For each assignment, some problems will be graded in detail for mathematical correctness, and some credit will also be given for the overall completeness and quality of the work, regardless of the correctness. Points in this category may be deducted for sloppy work, illegible writing, or poorly organized and difficult-to-follow steps.  Some problems may require you to provide a written explanation, and this should be done carefully, using complete sentences.  The homework is very important, and you should work hard at it and allow sufficient time to do a thorough job. You may work together with friends and get any help from me you need, provided your final solution write-up is done in your own words and is not merely copied. I will supply formal solutions to some of the problems on the webpage. Note: I will drop your lowest homework score from your grade.  Quizzes may be scheduled with as little as one class period advance notice.  Quizzes will not be dropped.

Qualitative Performance: I may use the following qualitative factors to raise or lower your class percentage by 2-3 % (basically, to deal with borderline grade cases): attendance, participation in class discussions, hard work, improvement, office hours, etc....

Free Tutoring: The Mathematics Tutoring Center is located in McCarthy Hall 187.  Please check their to consult their hours of operation.  Take advantage of this service, but do not expect tutors to do your homework for you.

Academic Integrity: Students who violate university standards of academic integrity are subject to disciplinary sanctions, including failure in the course and suspension from the university.  Since dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other students, and the university, policies on academic integrity are strictly enforced.  This includes receiving a disciplinary F in the course and having your name and the incident reported to the appropriate academic deans.  I expect that you will familiarize yourself with the academic integrity guidelines found in the current student handbook.  Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to: (1) copying from another student’s homework, quiz, or exam, (2) allowing another student to copy your written work, (3) copying solutions from a text solutions manual. 

Emergency Procedures:  In the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake or fire, take all your personal belongings and leave the classroom.  Use the stairways located at the east, west, or center of the building.  Do not use elevators---they may not be working once the alarm sounds. Go to the lawn area towards Nutwood Avenue behind McCarthy Hall---under no circumstance should you remain within 150 feet of the building.  Stay with class members for further instructions.  For additional information on exits, fire alarms, and telephones, "Building Evacuation Maps" are located near each elevator.

Final Thoughts: I'm looking forward to working with you all this semester! I *want* to help you learn the material and do well in the class. If you are having any problems or concerns with the class, I hope you will be comfortable talking to me about it. I'll do my best to give advice to keep you on track. To help me learn your names and to show you where my office is, I would like each of you to drop by my office sometime during the first two weeks for 5 minutes to introduce yourself.  I’ll drop your lowest homework score if you do this in the first two weeks.  This will help me get to know you and vice versa, and it won’t take long.  Have a great semester, and good luck.

Scott Annin
August 2009

Back to Scott's Main Page