Math 310 Numerical Analysis

Fall 2011, UAF

Instructor: Ed Bueler
Office Hours online:  Chapman 301C
http://www.dms.uaf.edu/~bueler/
  474-7693   elbueler@alaska.edu
 Time:  MWF 10:30--11:30am
Place: Gruening 202
Text:  J. Epperson, An Introduction to Numerical Methods
        and Analysis, rev. ed., Wiley 2007

This course will introduce you to numerical analysis.  You'll learn methods for solving certain problems of applied mathematics on computers, and why those methods work.  We will reconsider and solve problems in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, and in areas that are new to you.

You will be expected to understand both the theory and the practice of numerical analysis.  Theory will be learned through lecture, homework and exams.  Some problems will ask you to explain a concept and some to demonstrate an idea by a short hand calculation.  We will use the mathematical programming language Matlab/Octave from the beginning, and on every assignment.  On the homework you will be expected to turn numerical algorithms into functioning programs.

A combination of lectures and homework together make up the core of the class.  Getting the most out of both of these is your responsibility.  I have a responsibility to make them worth your time.  You should ask questions in class, about the lecture content and about homework assignments.

Exams, Homework, and Grade:   60% of your grade will be determined by in-class, closed-book exams:
25%
35%
 		Midterm Exam
Final Exam
 Friday, Oct. 28  (in-class)
Friday, Dec. 16, 10:15 am--12:15 pm  (in-class)

40% of the grade will be determined by approximately 10 graded homework assignments.  These will combine book exercises and, as stated above, will include use of Matlab/Octave to do examples.
The course grade will be determined by points on the exams and homework, according to the schedule at right  --->


The schedule represents a guarantee.  I will use plus/minus grades as illustrated. 		Percent
93 - 100 %
90 - 92 %
87 - 89 %
82 - 86 %
79 - 81 %
76 - 78 %
  68 - 75 %
65 - 67 %
  60 - 64 %
57 - 59 %
0 - 56 %
 Grade
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
D+
D
D-
F

Prerequisites:    Calculus (through Math 202 Calculus III), plus either Math 302 Differential Equations or Math 314 Linear Algebra.  The catalog also says "knowledge of programming" is recommended, and that is true, but your knowledge can be pretty shallow.  That is, as long as you are not afraid to start playing with short programs from the first day.  You must be willing and able to start learning Matlab/Octave immediately; that turns out to be pretty easy for students who take responsibility for it immediately.

Matlab/Octave tutorial:   I do not assume that you are familiar with Matlab/Octave already. It has an interpreted environment with straightforward plotting and data viewing commands, but it really excels at making vector and matrix operations easy.  In the first few weeks of the course I will do tutorials in class to help you get started. Programming in Matlab/Octave will occur, but the programming content of this class is small. An elementary understanding of loops ("for" loops) and conditionals ("if" statements), and of functions/procedures, is all that is needed.  Programming proceeds by trial and error, and computers make trial and error a rapid process, and in Matlab/Octave it is especially rapid.  See www.math.uaf.edu/~bueler/MatlabEx.htm for a brief online tutorial and links to more.  Again: For the homework you will be expected to turn numerical algorithms into functioning programs.

Getting a copy of Matlab or Octave: 
Supplementary text:  There is a very nice, easy, free book by Cleve Moler, the Matlab creator:
      C. Moler, Numerical Computing with Matlab
      http://www.mathworks.com/moler/index_ncm.html
It is not quite a good text for the course---not quite telling you the mathematical ideas---but it is fun and a great model for actual numerical programming.  You can download individual chapters as PDF or you can buy a copy through SIAM Press.  We will use some of the programs in the book:
      http://www.mathworks.com/moler/ncmfilelist.html

Policies and Makeup exams:   The Dept of Mathematics and Statistics has reasonable policies on incompletes, late withdrawals, early final examinations, etc.  See www.dms.uaf.edu/dms/Policies.html.  You are covered by the UAF Student Code of Conduct.  I will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to student with disabilities.  I will create makeup versions of the Exams if necessary, provided you have a convincing reason for me to do so and you let me know at least two class days before the exam.