Linear Algebra I: Linear Equations

Systems of equations live at the heart of linear algebra. In this course you will explore fundamental concepts by exploring definitions and theorems that give a basis for this subject. At the start of this course we introduce systems of linear equations and a systematic method for solving them. This algorithm will be used for computations throughout the course as you investigate applications of linear algebra and more complex algorithms for analyzing them. Later in this course you will later see how a system of linear equations can be represented in other ways, which can reduce problems involving linear combinations of vectors to approaches that involve systems of linear equations. Towards the end of the course we explore linear independence and linear transformations. They have an essential role throughout our course and in applications of linear algebra to many areas of industry, science, and engineering. __

• Evaluate mathematical expressions to compute quantities that deal with linear systems
• Characterize a linear system in terms of the number of solutions, and whether the system is consistent or inconsistent.
• Apply elementary row operations to solve linear systems of equations.
• Characterize a set of vectors in terms of linear combinations, their span, and how they are related to each other geometrically
• Characterize a set of vectors and linear systems using the concept of linear independence.
• Construct dependence relations between linearly dependent vectors.
• Identify and construct linear transformations of a matrix.
• Characterize linear transformations as onto and/or one-to-one.

• Prior to enrolling in this class, students are encouraged to have completed any course that deals with solving linear equations, the domain and range of a function of one variable, graphing functions of one variable, and trigonometric functions. These topics are often covered in pre-calculus courses.