Numerical Methods
for Calculus & Differential Equations
B'14 Course Information
Info
MA3457/CS4033 Sections B01/B01 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 2 pm



Course Information | Homework Assignments | Mini-Projects | Test Preview | Announcements & Hints



Instructor: TA:

Vadim V. Yakovlev

Office: SH104C
Phone: x 5495
E-mail: vadim@wpi.edu
Kyle Dunn

Office: SL326
Phone: x5148
E-mail: kgdunn@wpi.edu

Classes & Office Hours:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Lectures
@ OH223		 2:00-2:50 pm 2:00-2:50 pm - 2:00-2:50 pm 2:00-2:50 pm
Conferences
@ OH223		 - - 2:00-2:50 pm - -
Office Hours *) 3:00-3:50 pm (I) 11:00-11:50 am (TA) - 4:00-4:50 pm (I) 12:00-12:50 pm (TA)
____________
*) Also by appointment


Course Objectives:

The course's primary goal is to introduce the students to a wide range of numerical algorithms related to problems in Calculus and Differential Equations, review their fundamental principles and illustrate their applications.

Upon completing the course the students will be able to apply numerical procedures to solve applied problems and, when applying the algorithms to practical scenarios, control their performance.

Main Topics: Course Contents:
  1. Interpolation
  2. Approximation
  3. Numerical Integration
  4. Initial Value Problems
  5. Boundary Value Problems
  • MATLAB Computation (on Topics 1 to 5)
Four 1-hour lectures a week
One 1-hour conference a week
Daily homework assignments
Five homework-based Quizzes
Four Mini-Projects, two presentations
Two Midterms
The Final (including a comprehensive MATLAB test)

Useful Sources:

Text:

R.L. Burden and J.D. Faires, Numerical Analysis, 9th Edition, Brooks/Cole, 2011.

Further Reading:

Reference lists for Topics 1 to 5

Course Web Site:

http://www.wpi.edu/~vadim/NM_I/B14_Info.html

Grading Scheme:

The 100% course grade is based on:

Five Quizzes (20%, 4% each),
Four Mini-Projects (24%, 6% each),
Two Project Presentations (4%, 2% each),
Two Midterms (26%, 13% each),
Final Exam (26%, Part 1 - 13%, Part 2 - 13%).

Point ranges derived to percents for grades are given by:

Percentage 90 80 - 90 70 - 80 < 70
Grade A B C NR

Homework & Quizzes:

Each topic covered in the course is illustrated by a number of applied problems to be solved at home. The list of recommended problems can be found on the Homework Assignments page.

Papers with the homework problems are not handed in, but it would be a good idea to keep the solutions of all homework problems in a well-organized manner in a file/notebook..

Periodically, there will be 20 min quizzes composed from the homework problems assigned in the preceding classes. Using notes will be allowed when doing the quiz.

Mini-Projects:

Work on each main course topic will include a short project. The printed reports are due by the Project Days to be held in accordance with the Schedule of Events. The project tasks can be found on the Mini-Projects page.

While the projects are not designed to be extended and complex, their role in the course is essential: they will help students gain experience in solving practical problems with the use of MATLAB. The projects will be done in pairs as independent studies; to complete the work, additional reading and practicing may be necessary.
Midterms & Final Exam:

There will be two Midterms (each of 1 hour length) covering Topics 1 to 3. The Final Exam will consist of two parts (each one of 1 hour length):

(I) Part I is similar to Midterms and covers Topics 4 and 5.
(II) Part II involves practical MATLAB work and covers the subjects from the entire course.

Two days prior to each test, its description will appear on the Test Preview page.

The Midterms and the First part of the Final are open book & open notes events. The use of calculators is allowed; however, it is critical to show all major steps of the solution on paper.
Bonuses & Other Policies:

There will be opportunities to earn bonus points: each Midterm and the Final (Part I) will include a bonus problem. Also, the outstanding Projects can be awarded bonus points at the instructor's discretion.

Students are responsible for learning the basics of MATLAB on their own. Supportive materials will be provided as handouts; related instructions are planned for Conferences; however, there will be discussions of MATLAB technicalities in class during lecture meetings.

IMPORTANT: No make up of the missed Quizzes and Midterms will be possible, and no late Project submissions will be accepted unless there is a legitimate reason which can be documented (an illness or another unavoidable emergency).

Some valuable info which becomes available during the course (including answers to FAQ) will be posted on the Announcements & Hints page. It would be worth periodically checking this page out.
Accommodations:

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, the related arrangements should done as soon as possible. Those students who believe that they may need accommodations, but don't have appropriate documentations, are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office in the Student Development & Counseling Center, x4908.

If you have not already done so, students with disabilities who need to utilize accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. This office can be contacted via email: DisabilityServices@wpi.edu, phone: (508) 831-4908, or in person: 137 Daniels Hall.

Academic Dishonesty:

WPI's Academic Honesty policy, definitions and examples of academic dishonesty, and other info on the subject (including explanations of the steps that will be taken if students are suspected of violating the policy) can be found at: http://www.wpi.edu/offices/policies/honesty/.

All acts of fabrication, plagiarism, cheating, and facilitation will be prosecuted according to the university's policy. If you are ever unsure as to whether your intended actions are considered academically honest or not, please see your instructor.

Syllabus & Schedule of Events:

Week 1: Interpolation: Polynomial interpolation (Largange & Newton polynomials). Sources of errors. MATLAB computation. Week 2: Interpolation(cont'd): Spline interpolation. Numerical differentiation, including Richardson scheme. Approximation: Method of least squares. Week 3: Approximation (cont'd): Orthogonal systems. MATLAB computation. Numerical integration: The definite integral. Week 4: Numerical integration (cont'd): Trapezoidal rule. Romberg algorithm. Adaptive Simpson scheme. Week 5: Numerical integration (cont'd): MATLAB computation. Initial value problem (IVP): Analytical and numerical techniques. Taylor series. Week 6: IVP (cont'd): Runge-Kutta method. MATLAB computation. Boundary value problem (BVP): Shooting method. Week 7: BVP (cont'd): Finite-difference discretization. MATLAB computation.

Course Information | Homework Assignments | Mini-Projects | Test Preview | Announcements & Hints

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Last modified: Mon, Oct 27, 2014