MAT360-001 - Numerical Analysis - Spring, 2017

INSTRUCTOR: Andy Long. Office: MEP 443; phone: 572-5794; email: longa@nku.edu

MEETING TIME/PLACE: 10:50-12:05, MWF, Landrum 103

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: MAT 360 Numerical Analysis (3,0,3) Numerical integration, solution of nonlinear equations by iterative processes; functional approximation and interpolation; initial value problems. PREREQ: C or better in MAT 234 and (INF 260 or CSC270).

TEXT: Elementary Numerical Computing with Mathematica (Skeel and Kelper)

GRADING: There will be two exams and a comprehensive final. Homework will be assigned regularly and handed in for grading. There will also be two projects.

Your course grade will be determined as follows:

Homework: 25%

Mathematica Projects: 15%

Two Exams 40%

Final 20%

The tests will be given in two parts: one part in-class, closed book; the other part will be a few short "take-home" problems to do using whatever software you prefer.
Make-up exams will not be given except in extreme circumstances.

I use the standard grading scale, with a small buffer zone for the assignment of plus/minus grades:

<60	60-70	70-71	71-79	79-80	80-81	81-89	89-90	90-91	>91
F	D	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A

PROJECTS: There will be two group projects, each of which will rely on Mathematica. You will, however, choose from three different projects. The project areas are

root-finding
spline interpolation
adaptive plotting

More details as we go along, but you may begin to think about people you'd like to work with (groups of three). I may allow you to choose one group for one project, and then assign another.

You'll be putting your work on a wiki, for all the world to see.

HOMEWORK: Homework will be assigned regularly. You should expect to do a lot of homework in order to do well in the course. Each homework assignment will be handed in, so that a few homework problems (chosen at random) may be graded. Several of these will be dropped (your lowest ones). Your homework grade will be computed from the remaining grades.

ATTENDANCE: The student is responsible for all material assigned or discussed in class. Attendance will be taken, and may be used along with class effort (as measured by participation - asking questions, answering other students' questions, group work, etc.) to resolve borderline grades.

WITHDRAWAL: The last day to withdraw from any class is March 20rd, 2017, with a grade of "W". After that day it is not usually permitted.

OFFICE HOURS:

MW 12:00-1:45;
TR 9:30-10:40; 12:15-1:30.

I am also available by appointment, and at random when approached with a smile.

Notes:

Course homepage: http://www.nku.edu/~longa/classes/mat360/
Learning Objectives: http://www.nku.edu/~longa/classes/mat360/LearningObjectives.html
I reserve the right to alter this syllabus if necessary. Any changes will be discussed in class, and all students will be notified.
If you need accommodations for a physical, psychological, or medical disability please talk with me so that I may do my best to meet your needs.
The Departmental Syllabus for all Mathematics courses is a part of the syllabus for this course.

Website maintained by Andy Long. Comments appreciated.