This is a textbook for a first course in linear algebra. Of course, there are already many fine linear algebra textbooks available. Even if you are reading this one online for free, you should know that there are other free linear algebra textbooks available online. You have choices! So why would you choose this one? This book arises from my belief that linear algebra, as presented in a traditional undergraduate curriculum, has for too long lived in the shadow of calculus. Many mathematics programs currently require their students to complete at least three semesters of calculus, but only one semester of linear algebra, which often has two semesters of calculus as a prerequisite.

Students work in pairs to critique and improve their work on the Self Check from the previous lesson.Key ConceptsTo critique and improve the task from the Self Check and to complete a similar task with a partner, students use what they know about solving equations and relating the equations to real-world situations.Goals and Learning ObjectivesSolve equations using the addition or multiplication property of equality.Write word problems that match algebraic equations.Write equations to represent a mathematical situation.

http://www.artandlinearequations.weebly.com

This Project-Based Learning experience blends art and linear equations to help students make connections and extend their knowledge from a very basic understanding of y = mx + b to a true understanding of how slope and y intercept look differently in both equation form and graphed. Students get to use their creativity while at the same time make some major connections:
1) How do equations that have opposite slopes look on a graph?
2) What happens when two equations have the same slope but opposite y intercepts?
3) How does scale factor affect the appearance of the art?

I used this with my 6th grade honors class (preparing for Algebra I in 7th grade) but it would be appropriate for any middle school grade level and I even had a 5th grade teacher state that she would modify this lesson to teach graphing lines which I may also do with my standard 6th grade students!

In this project, you will explore a real-world problem, and then work through a series of steps to analyze that problem, research ways the problem could be solved, then propose a possible solution to that problem. Often, there are no specific right or wrong solutions, but sometimes one particular solution may be better than others. The key is making sure you fully understand the problem, have researched some possible solutions, and have proposed the solution that you can support with information / evidence.Begin by reading the problem statement in Step 1. Take the time to review all the information provided in the statement, including exploring the websites, videos and / or articles that are linked. Then work on steps 2 through 8 to complete this problem-based learning experience.

In this project, you will explore a real-world problem, and then work through a series of steps to analyze that problem, research ways the problem could be solved, then propose a possible solution to that problem. Often, there are no specific right or wrong solutions, but sometimes one particular solution may be better than others. The key is making sure you fully understand the problem, have researched some possible solutions, and have proposed the solution that you can support with information / evidence.Begin by reading the problem statement in Step 1. Take the time to review all the information provided in the statement, including exploring the websites, videos and / or articles that are linked. Then work on steps 2 through 8 to complete this problem-based learning experience.

To plot an inequality, such as x>3, on a number line, first draw a circle over the number (e.g., 3). Then if the sign includes equal to (≥ or ≤), fill in the circle. If the sign does not include equal to (> or <), leave the circle unfilled in. Finally, draw a line going from the circle in the direction of the numbers that make the inequality true.

Rebecca Davis sets up a coordinate plane on the floor of her classroom. Groups of 3 or 4 students are assigned equations in slope-intercept form and graph them using their bodies on the giant coordinate plane. As extensions, Ms. Davis changes the slope or y-intercept of the original equation and makes the activity into a race.

The purpose of this task is to emphasize the use of the Remainder Theorem (a discussion of which should obviously be considered as a prerequisite for the task) as a method for determining structure in polynomial in equations, and in this particular instance, as a replacement for division of polynomials.

This task illustrates A-SSE.1a because it requires students to identify expressions as sums or products and interpret each summand or factor.

For a polynomial function p, a real number r is a root of p if and only if p(x) is evenly divisible by x_r. This fact leads to one of the important properties of polynomial functions: a polynomial of degree d can have at most d roots. This is the first of a sequence of problems aiming at showing this fact.

Students are asked to consider the expression that arises in physics as the combined resistance of two resistors in parallel. However, the context is not explicitly considered here. The task is good general preparation for problems more specifically aligned to either A-SSE.1 or A-SSE.2.

The intention of this task is to provide extra depth to the standard A-APR.2 it is principally designed for instructional purposes only. The students may use graphing technology: the focus, however, should be on what happens to the function g when x=0 and the calculator may or may not be of help here (depending on how sophisticated it is!).

Sal solves a linear system with 3 variables by representing it with an augmented matrix and bringing the matrix to reduced row-echelon form. Gaussian Elimination is the method, reduced row echelon is just the final result.

This question provides students with an opportunity to see expressions as constructed out of a sequence of operations: first taking the square root of n, then dividing the result of that operation into s. Students studying statistics encounter the expression in this question as the standard deviation of a sampling distribution with samples of size n when the distribution from which the sample is taken has standard deviation s.

This task continues ``Zeroes and factorization of a quadratic polynomial I.'' The argument here generalizes, as shown in ``Zeroes and factorization of a general polynomial'' to show that a polynomial of degree d can have at most d roots. This task is intended for instructional purposes to help students see more clearly the link between factorization of polynomials and zeroes of polynomial functions.

This task provides a simple but interesting and realistic context in which students are led to set up a rational equation (and a rational inequality) in one variable, and then solve that equation/inequality for an unknown variable.

This task illustrates the process of rearranging the terms of an expression to reveal different aspects about the quantity it represents, precisely the language being used in standard A-SSE.B.3.