Skip to main content
Unit outline_

MATH1002: Linear Algebra

Intensive January, 2023 [Block mode] - Remote

MATH1002 is designed to provide a thorough preparation for further study in mathematics and statistics. It is a core unit of study providing three of the twelve credit points required by the Faculty of Science as well as a foundation requirement in the Faculty of Engineering. This unit of study introduces vectors and vector algebra, linear algebra including solutions of linear systems, matrices, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Mathematics and Statistics Academic Operations
Credit points 3
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
MATH1012 or MATH1014 or MATH1902
Assumed knowledge
? 

HSC Mathematics or MATH1111. Students who have not completed HSC Mathematics (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Mathematics Bridging Course (offered in February)

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Daniel Hauer, daniel.hauer@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Jessica Slegers, jessica.slegers@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Webwork quiz
online task (may require written calculations)
10% Multiple weeks Various lengths
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assignment 1
written calculations
5% Week 02
Due date: 22 Jan 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 29 Jan 2023
7 days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Assignment 2
written calculations
10% Week 04
Due date: 05 Feb 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 12 Feb 2023
7 days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Online task Quiz
Mulitple Choice
15% Week 05
Due date: 06 Feb 2023 at 11:00
40 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Monitored exam
? 
Final exam
Multiple choice & Written Answers required!
60% Week 06
Due date: 13 Feb 2023 at 11:00
1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11

Assessment summary

Below are brief assessment details. Further information can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

  • Online quizzes: There are ten online quizzes. Each online quiz consists of a set of randomized questions. The best 8 out of your 10 quizzes will count, making 10% of your total mark. You cannot apply for special consideration for a single webwork quiz! But the better mark principle will apply for the total 10% - i.e. if your overall exam mark is higher, then your 10% for the Webwork quizzes will come from your exam. The deadline for completion of each quiz is three days later counted from the opening day. The precise schedule for the quizzes is found on Canvas.

  • Quiz: The quiz will be held online in Canvas. The quiz is 40 minutes. The better mark principle will be used for the quiz so do not submit an application for Special Consideration or Special Arrangements if you miss the quiz. The better mark principle means that the quiz counts if and only if the quiz mark is better than or equal to your exam mark. If your quiz mark is less than your exam mark, the exam mark will be used for that portion of your assessment instead.

  • Assignments: There are two written assignments which must be submitted electronically, as PDF files only via Canvas, by the deadline. Note that your assignment will not be marked if it is illegible or if it is submitted sideways or upside down. It is your responsibility to check that your assignment has been submitted correctly. Penalties apply for late submission. A mark of zero will be awarded for all submissions more than 7 days past the original due date. Further extensions past this time will not be permitted. The better mark principle does not apply on assignments; that is, the assignment marks count regardless of whether they are better than your exam mark or not.

  • Examination: Further information about the exam will be made available at a later date on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

At HD level, a student demonstrates a flair for the subject as well as a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.

Distinction

75 - 84

At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.

Credit

65 - 74

At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material.
A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general
understanding of the unit material and can solve routine problems and/or identify and
superficially discuss theoretical concepts.

Pass

50 - 64

At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the unit material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory achievement and is awarded to a student who has threshold knowledge.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introductions, vectors in the plane, vector algebra, vectors in R3 and Rn. Block teaching (2 hr) LO1
Length and angle: the dot product, orthogonal vectors, projections Block teaching (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Cross products Block teaching (2 hr) LO5
Week 02 Lines and planes Block teaching (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Systems of linear equations and Gaussian elimination Block teaching (2 hr) LO6 LO7
Gauss-Jordan elimination, intro to matrices, matrix algebra Block teaching (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 03 Matrix algebra, inverse of a matrix. Block teaching (2 hr) LO8
Solving systems of linear equations, elementary matrices Block teaching (2 hr) LO6 LO8
Applications to population models and Markov chains Block teaching (2 hr) LO8 LO11
Week 04 Determinants Block teaching (2 hr) LO8
Eigenvalues and eigenvectors Block teaching (2 hr) LO9
Diagonalisation and more on applications Block teaching (2 hr) LO10 LO11

Attendance and class requirements

  • Lecture attendance: You are expected to attend lectures. If you do not attend lectures you should at least follow the lecture recordings available through Canvas.
  • Tutorial attendance: Tutorials (one per week) start in Week 2. You should attend the tutorial given on your personal timetable. Attendance at tutorials will be recorded. Your attendance will not be recorded unless you attend the tutorial in which you are enrolled. While there is no penalty if 80% attendance is not met we strongly recommend you attend tutorials regularly to keep up with the material and to engage with the tutorial questions. Since there is no assessment associated with the tutorials do not submit an application for Special Consideration or Special Arrangements for missed tutorials.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

  • Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction, by David Poole, 4th edition. Available from the Co-op Bookshop: digital access
    available from the publisher cengage.com

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. apply mathematical logic and rigour to solving problems;
  • LO2. represent vectors both algebraically and geometrically in two and three dimensions, and perform arithmetic with them;
  • LO3. use vectors to solve classical geometric problems;
  • LO4. determine spanning families and check linear independence
  • LO5. perform and manipulate dot and cross products;
  • LO6. set up systems of linear equations;
  • LO7. solve systems of linear equations using Gaussian elimination;
  • LO8. perform matrix arithmetic and calculate matrix inverses and determinants;
  • LO9. find eigenvalues and eigenvectors;
  • LO10. diagonalise a matrix;
  • LO11. express mathematical ideas and arguments coherently in written form.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Minor changes to the weightings of the final exam and the second assignment.
  • Tutorials: Tutorials are small classes in which you are expected to work through questions from the tutorial sheet in small groups on the white board. The role of the tutor is to provide support and to some extent give feedback on your solutions written on the board.

  • Tutorials: Tutorials start in week 2. You should attend the tutorial given on your personal timetable. Attendance at tutorials will be recorded. Your attendance will not be recorded unless you attend the tutorial in which you are enrolled. If you are absent from a tutorial do not apply for Special Consideration or Special Arrangement, since there is no assessment associated with the missed tutorial.

  • Tutorial and exercise sheets: The question sheets for a given week will be available on the MATH1002 Canvas page. Solutions to tutorial exercises for week n will usually be posted on the web by the afternoon of the Friday of week n.
  • Ed Discussion forum: https://edstem.org

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.