African Institute for Mathematical Sciences - Senegal

Academic Program
(2023-2024)
Syllabus Skills Courses: Linear algebra and applications
AIMS Regular/Cooperative Master Programme
2023-2024

Skills Block n°2

October 30- November 17

Course I: Linear algebra and Application

by Bernadette Faye

Names: Bernadette Faye

Affiliations: Alioune Diop University of Bambay, Sénégal
Lecturer bio: Bernadette Faye is actually an assistant lecturer at the
university Aliou Diop Bambey (UADB) in Senegal. She obtained her
PhD degree in analytic number theory into a dual program between
the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa and the
University of Dakar (UCAD) under the co-supervision of the Pr.
Florian Luca from Wits University and Pr. Djiby Sow from UCAD
through a PhD fellowship award from the TWAS-OWSD. She is also
an AIMS alumni.
Title of the course: (advanced) Linear algebra and Application
Objectives: This course aims to provide a basic introduction to
matrix theory and techniques of linear algebra. Emphasis will be
placed on concepts of vector spaces, linear transformations and
matrices, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, bilinear and
quadratic forms and some aspects of the inner product space theory.
This course parallels a combination of the theory and applications of
linear algebra in areas such as Quantum computing, graph theory,
control theory, fourier approximations, population growth or models
in dynamical systems, etc. Computer software and graphing
calculators (SageMath, Singular, etc.) may be used to enhance the
learning and teaching techniques covered.

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AIMS Regular/Cooperative Master Programme
2023-2024

Course contents:
The course contents are detailed as follows:
● Vectors spaces: vector spaces, vector subspaces, linear
independence, spanning sets, basis, dimension
● Linear Transformations and Matrices: linear transformation,
kernel, range, matrix representation rank
● Determinants: permutations, determinants, Laplace expansion,
determinants and linear system
● Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
● Diagonalization, trigonalization, Jordan reduction
● Bilinear and Quadratic Forms: Bilinear forms, symmetric and
skew-symmetric bilinear forms, quadratic forms, Gauss
reduction
● Inner Product: Inner product spaces, Orthonormal basis,
Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization, Orthogonal maps
● Course complement
Scalar product in R^n
Equivalence between dot product and product of a row vector with
a column vector
SVD
Lecture1:

1-Motivation of the course

2-Vectors spaces
3-Subspaces

Lecture 2:
1-Linear combinaison
2-Linear dependence and spanning sets
3-Basis

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AIMS Regular/Cooperative Master Programme
2023-2024

Lecture 3:
1-Dimension
2-Linear maps

Lecture 4:
1-Range
2-Kernel
3-Injectivity
4-Surjectivity
5-Isomorphism
6-Composition of linear maps
7-Rank
8-Nullity
9-Dimension theorem
10-Matrix
11-Representation of linear maps

Lecture 5:
1-Operations on matrices
2-Changes of Basis

Lecture 6:
1-Eigenvalues
2-Eigenvectors
3-Determinant of a matrix

Lecture 7:
1-Spectrum of a matrix

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AIMS Regular/Cooperative Master Programme
2023-2024

2-Diagonalisation of a matrix

Lecture 8:
1-Scalar product
2-Norm

Lecture 9: Applications of linear algebra in real life

1- Markov chains
2- Graph theory
3- Cryptography

References:
● A. F. Beardon, Algebra and Geometry, Cambridge Univ. Press,
2005.
● W. K. Nicholson, Linear Algebra with Applications, Third
Edition, PWS Publishing Company, 1995.
● H. Roudier, Algèbre Linéaire, Troisième Édition, Vuibert, 2008
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals on algebra
Language of instruction: English