Computer Science Projects

MA 2071 B03

General guidelines

Both projects must be able to run on the CCC unix machines, or on Windows XP Home edition. You may use any programming language that is taught at WPI (aside from mathematics-specific languages such as Maple or Matlab), or any other language with express permission from the instructor. When submitting windows applications, you must include an executable along with your source code.

Submit your project in one of the following ways:

• Place your files on the CCC Unix machines, and set permissions such that outside users may view your files. Email waymouth@wpi.edu with the path to your project files. Alternatively, place them in your web space and give me a URL.
• Bundle your files into a .ZIP or .tar.gz archive and email them to waymouth@wpi.edu
• Turn in a floppy disk with your files on it to the instructor. Make sure and have your group number and names on it!!!

There is no need to submit a printed copy of your source code.

Grading of your project will take into account the following criteria:

• Does it run? We will make test cases that test all specified functionality.
• Does it give correct and complete answers?
• Is the source code readable, well commented, and well organized? You must submit a README file with your source code that documents the general logical structure of your code, and indicates how you solved the problem. You must also comment your source code. At the bare minimum, state the purpose of every function, and document any lines that may not be obvious to the reader.
• Is the software user friendly? Text interfaces are acceptable, but the program must be easy to understand from the user's point of view.
• You should use the most precise floating-point data type your language has. In C/C++ and Java, this is double.

It is strongly suggested that you test your software before submitting it using Maple, or a similar program to check your answers.

Program #1. Gauss Jordan Software -- Due Monday Nov 17

Write an interactive program that allows the user to enter a system of equations. It then implements either the Gauss-Jordan Algorithm or Gaussian Elimination (your choice – document this), and displays the result. It must properly handle all three kinds of solutions, and it must work on random problems entered by us.

Grading:

5 points	User interface clear and understandable
15 points	Gauss-Jordan algorithm implementation
5 points	Handle single solution
5 points	Handle infinite solutions
5 points	Handle no solution
15 points	Documentation, program structure, and source code readability

Total points: 50

comment: during term D, students got relatively poor grades in many cases because they focused too much on the I/O interface and too little on code that produced the right answers. Your priorities should be the other way around!!

Program #2. Matrix Algebra Software --

Input:

1. Either one or two matrices of any size (at most 10x10). The user must be able to see the inputted matrices, and be able to make changes if they made a mistake.
2. Additional information needed to determine the matrix operation to perform.

Computations:

• product of two matrices
• a square matrix raised to a power (the user must be able to specify the power)
• a square matrix raised to a specified power, times another matrix
• the inverse of a square matrix (much code from Project 1 should be recyclable here)

Output:
Computations as they are done. If the matrix is singular, tell the user.

Grading:

10 points	User interface clear and understandable
5 points	Product of two matrices
5 points	matrix raised to a power
5 points	matrix raised to a power, times another matrix
10 points	inverse of a matrix
15 points	Documentation, program structure, and source code readability

Total points: 50

Computer Science – Project #3

Part One

Programming may be described as implementing an algorithm in a language which a computer, with the help of a compiler, may understand.

Discuss this statement in terms of your own experiences and knowledge.

Part Two

Summarize your results from Projects I and II in terms of objectives meant and also shortcomings. You may also resubmit either project with improvements to be graded again.

Part Three

Summarize what things you have learned as individuals and as a group about project work during this course, especially as it might be applicable to future work in IQPs and MQPs. Areas to include are

• time management (meetings, schedules)
• communication skills
• importance of writing
• importance of choosing good software tools
• dividing and coordinating work
• producing a finished product which has been

debugged

properly tested

properly documented