Geometric Algorithms


CS232 meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 11:00am - 12:00 pm in MCS 148.
Discussion meets Fridays: 2:00 - 3:00pm in MCS B33.

Instructor: Kyle Burke
Location: PSY 223
Phone: BU Ext 8-2359
Email:
Office Hours: Monday 2:00 - 4:30pm; Wednesday 1:30 - 4:00pm; by appointment.

Teaching Fellow: Kebin Wang
Location: PSY 224
Phone: BU Ext 8-2356
Email: kwang
Office Hours: Thursday 3:00-5:00pm; Friday 9:00-11:00am.

Text: Linear Algebra with Applications (Fourth Edition). Otto Bretscher. (Required)
Linear Algebra with Applications Student Solution Manual (Fourth Edition). Otto Bretscher. (Recommended) Currently this book is not yet being printed. The first three chapters are available here. Click on the Take a Closer Look tab. The sample chapters are available in pdf format.
Understanding Linear Algebra using Matlab, Kleinfeld and Kleinfeld. (Required)

Online Aid: The course website is at http://cs-people.bu.edu/paithan/cs232/.
Kyle recommends using Wikipedia to find extra information about class topics. However, Kyle is not responsible for the correctness of Wikipedia's content; it might be incorrect!

Mailing List: There will be a mailing list, and I don't think you should have to do anything. More on this as I learn more! Sorry for the confusion!

Please sign up for the class mailing list. To do this, log on to csa or csb and enter the following command:

csmail -a cs232

For more detailed directions, please visit these directions.

Grading: Grades will be determined based on the following rubric:

Homework:	30%
Quizzes:	10%
Projects:	20%
Exams:	20%
Final Exam:	20%

Homework: Students will have about one week to complete each homework assignment. Assignments are due at the beginning of class time on the due date. Students who are unable to return the assignment in class should place their homework in the drop box in MCS at least 20 minutes prior to the start of class.

Quizzes: Surprise ("Pop") quizzes will be given in some classes. These quizzes will be very short, and students will be given less than five minutes to complete them. At the end of the semester, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes.

Exams: There will be two in-class exams given in the semester.

Final Exam: The Final Exam will take place in MCS 148 from 9am to 11am on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Policies:
BU Academic Code of Conduct: The course will adhere strictly to BU's academic code of conduct. Infractions will be reported to the academic conduct committee. Please take the time to read and understand the code.

Working With Others: Students are expected to write up solutions to homework problems on their own. Students may collaborate to the extent where they discuss problems and share ideas, though they may not write up their solutions while each other are present. Students should discuss together, then write down their solutions privately. Additionally, students should list the people they discussed the homework problems with on the assignment. (This includes people who you helped without receiving help.) Any violation of this is considered a breach of the above-mentioned Code of Conduct. As far as coding goes, students should use only code written by themselves (aside form sources listed by the instructor) and not share code with anyone else, unless with their group if working on a group programming project.

Late Assignments: Assignments may be turned in late, but suffer the following penalties. Assignments turned in one weekday late will be marked down 20 points. Assignments turned in two weekdays late will be marked down 50 points (assignments due on Friday will only be accepted on Friday). Assignments turned in more than two weekdays late will not be graded. This means that if an assignment you would have earned an 88 with was due on Monday and you turn it in on Wednesday, you will instead get 38 points. Late assignments must be slid underneath the TF's door by 10:40am. Assignments received after this point will be treated as accepted the following day.

Open Door Policy: Kyle keeps his door open as much as possible when around. If his door is open, please feel free to knock and see if he is available to discuss the class, even if it is not currently official office hours. (The PSY building is closed on weekends and holidays, and is locked on weekdays around 8 or 9pm.)

No Writing: Kyle does not allow his students to take notes while in his office.

Repairing Incorrect Grading: If you have a problem with the way you were graded, please see either Kyle or the TF. If there's is an extensive problem that needs to be fixed, grades will be fixed accordingly. If there's a small, individual error, we will fix it. If the TF adjusts your grade, and you feel the change was mismanaged, please feel free to "appeal" to Kyle. However, if Kyle changes your grade, then the final grade he awards sticks.