Math 524 Linear Algebra: Spring 2026
Schedule (Approximately)

References

[Ax] Axler, Linear Algebra Done Right, 4th Edition.

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Day Topics Reading
Tu. 1/20 Introduction to the course.
Review of linear algebra from Math 254.
.
Th. 1/22 Vector spaces and subspaces. [Ax] Secs. 1A-C
Tu. 1/27 Fields and the complex numbers.
Sums of subspaces.
[Ax] Secs. 1A, 1C
Th. 1/29 Linear independence.
Basis for a vector space, dimension.
[Ax] Sec. 2A-B
Tu. 2/3 Bases, dimension, and direct sums. [Ax] Sec. 2B-C
Th. 2/5 Linear maps as a vector space.
Null space and range.
[Ax] Sec. 3A-B
Tu. 2/10 The fundamental theorem on linear maps.
Proving fundamentals: Problems solving session.
[Ax] Sec. 3A-B
Th. 2/12Coordinates (with respect to a basis).
Matrices for linear maps (with respect to two bases).
[Ax] Sec. 3C-D
Tu. 2/17 Factoring a matrix (or linear map.
Invertibility and isomorphism.
Problem solving session.
[Ax] Sec. 3CD
Th. 2/19 Products and quotient spaces. [Ax] Sec. 3E
Tu. 2/24 Polynomials. [Ax] Sec. 4
Th. 2/26 Operators and invariant subspaces.
Eigenvalues and eignevectors.
[Ax] Sec. 5.A
Tu. 3/3 The minimal polynomial of an operator. [Ax] Sec. 5.B
Th. 3/5 Test 1. [Ax] Sec. 1ABC, 2ABC, 3ABCDE
Tu. 3/10 The minimal polynomial and upper triangular matrices. [Ax] Sec. 5BC
Th. 3/12Operators that are upper triangularizable. [Ax] Sec. 5C
Tu. 3/17 Operators that are diagonalizable. [Ax] Sec. 5D
Th. 3/19 Generalized eigenspaces decompose
a coplex vector space.
[Ax] Sec. 8AB
Tu. 3/24 Nilpotent matrices and Jordan from. [Ax] Sec. 8ABC
Th. 3/26 Inner products and norms. [Ax] Sec. 6A
Tu. 4/7 Test 2 [Ax] Ch 5A-D, 8A-C (parts of).
Th. 4/9 . [Ax] Sec.
Tu. 4/14 . [Ax] Sec.
Th. 4/16 . [Ax] Sec.
Tu. 4/21 . [Ax] Sec.
Th. 4/23 . [Ax] Sec.
Tu. 4/28 . [Ax] Sec.
Th. 4/30 . [Ax] Sec.
Tu. 5/5 . [Ax] Sec.
Tu. 5/122 Final Test. [Ax] Mainly Ch 6,7.
Also Ch 1-3, 5,8