With the next problem set not due until one week later, Math 51 Teaching Assistant Derek Mitchell spent his February 14th, 3:30 pm to 5 pm weekly office hours alone again in Room 380-U. “I didn’t expect there to be anything special, like a whole room of students who wanted to actually learn about the practical applications of linear algebra,” Mitchell said. “But at this time last year, I hoped, maybe, maybe there would be someone in my office hours this Valentine’s Day.” With the end of the session, Mitchell sighed and returned to the chalkboard to draw a new set of matrices made out of irrational numbers that looked like hearts.
