Syllabus for ASRM 406 (Sections T1 & TG)

Linear Algebra with Financial Applications - Spring 2025

Instructor: Dr. Peter Caithamer Email: [email protected] Office: CAB 264B Office Hours: 10:45-11:45am M&W

Lectures: 9:00am-10:20am, Monday & Wednesday, in 2039 Campus Instructional Facility

TA: Wenjin Duan Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 1-2pm in CAB 264

Canvas Space: The course webpage is https://canvas.illinois.edu/courses/53247.

Prerequisite: MATH 241 and ASRM 210.

Reference: Schaum's Outline of Linear Algebra by Lipschutz (& Lipson. Any edition will do.)

Calculator: You may use any of the following calculators Texas Instruments calculators: TI-30Xa, TI-30XII, TI-30XS
MultiView (recommended). These are the only electronics allowed on exams. All watches must be removed from your wrists
and put away during exams; A clock will be plainly visible in the classroom.

Topics: Systems of Linear Equations, Vector Spaces, Matrices & Linear Tranformations, Subspaces, Determinants
Eigenvalues & Eigenvectors, and Applications to Financial and Actuarial Math.

Class Format: The course will be based on my lecture notes. (The reference listed above is an alternate source.) The lecture
notes contain definitions, statements of theorems (often to be proven in class), and examples (to be worked in class). They
also contain a list of homeworks for each section with complete solutions. (Please bring any typos or anything that is unclear
in the notes to my attention.)

These lecture notes use a "bare bones" style, with details to be filled in during the lectures, almost mandating that you attend
the lectures in order to understand them.

The notes will be posted on canvas. Each section has a version number, which will be updated as necessary when corrections
or additions are made. Please make sure always to use the latest version of the notes.

Attending class is very important. A large portion of your learning will come from the lectures. After I finish lecturing on a
section, the homework from that section is automatically assigned. You should work the homeworks and check your answers
with the solutions provided. Feel free to ask questions on the homeworks prior to the beginning of the lecture.

Your grade will be based on 3 mid-term exams and a (cumulative) final exam. Prior to any exam we will have a review
session. Exam questions look like homework problems or additional problems provided for the test review session. Final
exam problems will look like test questions. Thus, on any test you be seeing any type of problem for the second time (once in
the homeworks/review, and now on the test); On the final exam you should be seeing any type of problem for the third time.

Each exam will contain several problems asking you to state definitions or prove theorems. (These are usually listed on the
test review.)

For any exam (including the final) you may use a cheat sheet consisting of one 8.5in x11in piece of paper (both sides) in your
own handwriting. (Electronic reproductions of your own handwritng are not allowed.)

Each midterm exams will count for 20%, and your final exam will count for 40%. Getting more than 90% of the total points
available will guarantee you an A, 80% a B, etc. (There is always only a very slight curve of a few points.)

Exam questions will take one of three formats: written answer, mutiple choice, or hybrid.
--On written answer questions you must show all relevant work and circle your answer (as appropriate). Such a question is
graded by giving full credit, half credit or no credit. Full credit will be given for a totally correct solution with circled answer.
Half credit will be given for a solution which makes substantial progress towards obtaining the correct answer. (Typically,
more than half the work must be completed. Two mistakes on the same problem generally disqualify half credit.)
--On multiple choice questions you need only to circle the correct answer to receive full credit; Partial credit will not be
given.
--Hybrid questions are basically written answer questions where I provide the final answer to be circled. They are graded the
same way as written answer questions.
It is the student's responsibility to clearly, logically, and neatly show their work and thought process in an organized fashion.
Students do not get the benefit of any doubts which arise as a result of what they (don't) write.

Exams will be handed back in class and gone over, typically very class day after they are taken. It is your responsibility to
pick up your test. Final exam scores will be posted to canvas. (You may thus calculate your final course grade according to
the above formula to make sure that you receive the correct grade.)

Exam Times:
Exam 1 - Wednesday March 05 (during class)
Exam 2 - Wednesday April 02 (during class)
Exam 3 - Wednesday April 30 (during class)
Final Exam - Friday May 9 from 7-10pm in our usual classroom.

Missed Exams: Absences from exams are excused only in very special cases (e.g. severe illness or unalterable conflicts such
as athletic performance, religious observance, or jury duty). Once an exam is scheduled, let the instructor know if there
would be any conflict with your schedule as soon as is reasonably possible. In the rare case when absence from an exam is
excusable, the student must notify the instructor before the exam. Formal documentation must be provided.

Attendance Policy: Students are responsible for the lecture, homework assignment, and any announcements given in class.
It’s a good idea to get contact information for a few fellow students.

Classroom Behaviour: The classroom is run as one single discussion with a moderator (that's me). At any given time one
person has the floor (again, usually me). Side discussions are never permitted, regardless of whether I am speaking or a
student has the floor and is speaking. Such side discussions become distractions to non-participants, who are participating in
the actual discussion. When addressing the class make sure to speak loudly and clearly, as a basic form of respect to those
giving you their attention. Students arriving late should come in quietly and discreetly so as not to disturb anyone during
class. Cell phones and other personal electronics must be turned off in the classroom. Please help to create an atmosphere
conducive to learning.

Communications: While instruction is generally done in person, my university email address is the best way to contact me
about other course-related matters. Messages sent through other systems are likely to be overlooked by me. When contacting
students about course updates, I will send an email rather than just leave a message on Canvas. Formal email contact requires
a more formal style, like a letter, e.g. “Dear Dr. Caithamer”. When contacting me, please make sure to give me the
information I need to resolve your problem. I check my email on weekdays; a reply can sometimes take up to a full business
day from the time that I read your email.

Expectations:
From me you can expect:
1.) good lectures, clear explanations of concepts/definitions, how to work the problems, & prove the required theorems.
2.) fair tests (based on the lectures, homeworks, & test reviews), fairly graded.
3.) fair resolution of any issues that arise.

From you I expect:

1.) Attend the lectures.
2.) Read the notes (where appropriate).
3.) Try to understand the course material well enough in order to explain to a friend the necessary concepts, how to work the
homework problems, make (not state) the definitions, prove the theorems, etc.
4.) Work the homework problems. Get help with what you don't understand, (e.g. ask questions in class).
5.) Come to the tests having mastered the assigned homeworks, the required definitions and proofs, etc.

Academic Integrity
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code (http://studentcode.illinois.edu) should also be considered as a
part of this syllabus. Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity. Academic dishonesty
may result in a failing grade. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this
policy to avoid any misunderstanding.

The most common violation of the Student Code is Section 1-402c3: Providing false or misleading information for the
purpose of gaining an academic advantage. Be careful to be absolutely honest in all that you do so as not to mislead anyone.
If you are a candidate in (i.e. have taken exams with) either the SoA or the CAS, you are also bound by their codes for
candidates, which have a similar provision.
https://www.soa.org/49f1ff/globalassets/assets/files/edu/edu-code-cond-candidates.pdf
https://www.casact.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/professionalism_policiesproc_cas-candidate-code.pdf

Tentative Schedule
January 22 Opening Lecture
January 27 - February 12 Sections 1-3
February 17 - February 26 Sections 4-5 (Begin)
March 3 Review for Exam 1 (Sections 1-3)
March 5 Exam 1
March 10 Hand Back Exam 1
March 12 Sections 4-5 (Continue)
March 15-23 Spring Break
March 24 Sections 4-5 (Finish)
March 26 Section 6-7 (Begin)
March 31 Review for Exam 2 (Sections 4-5)
April 02 Exam 2
April 07 Hand Back Exam 2
April 9-23 Section 6-7
April 28 Review for Exam 3 (Sections 6-7)
April 30 Exam 3
May 05 Hand Back Exam 3
May 07 Review for Final

Accommodation Statement
To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course
instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES, you may
visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail [email protected], or visit the DRES website.

Emergency Response Statement

You are encouraged to review emergency response recommendations and campus building floor plans within the first 10 days
of class.

Family Education Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) Statement

Any student who has suppressed their directory information pursuant to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
should self-identify to the instructor to ensure protection of the privacy of their attendance in this course. See
https://registrar.illinois.edu/academic-records/ferpa/ for more information on FERPA.

Sexual Misconduct Policy and Report Statement

The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any
instances of sexual misconduct to the University’s Title IX and Disability Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX and
Disability will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus
disciplinary process, and law enforcement options.

A list of designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have
this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found at https://wecare.illinois.edu/resources/students/.
Other information about resources and reporting is available at https://wecare.illinois.edu.