Applied Linear Algebra and Numerical Analysis

Important announcements and hints

Course Description

Textbook

• R. L. Burden and J. D. Faires, Numerical Analysis, Seventh Edition, Brookes/Cole, 2001.
  

See the syllabus for an outline of the class.

Other references:

Learning Objectives and Instructor Expectations

The main goal of the course is to introduce approximate numerical methods for solving mathematical equations that cannot be solved exactly by hand. Such problems arise constantly in science, engineering, finance, computer graphics, and elsewhere. We will study several basic numerical algorithms, how to implement them, and how to analyze their behavior mathematically.

You should also become adept at using the MATLAB language for numerical problem solving. MATLAB has many built-in functions for solving particular problems and you will learn how to use these. You should also gain an understanding of how they work, why they sometimes don't work, and how to use them intellegently.

Schedule and Homework

Follow links in the table below to obtain a copy of the homework in PostScript (.ps) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, and also for associated scripts or data files. For additional information regarding viewing and printing the homework and solution sets, click here.

Grading

There will be 8 homework assignments. These will usually be due on Fridays in class, but check the schedule above for due dates.

Each homework will be worth 25 points and the lowest homework score will be dropped, so 175 points are possible on homework.

There will be two midterms, each worth 75 points,

The course will culminate with a final project that will be due during exam week, worth 50 points.

A total of 375 points are possible in the course. You may view your homework and exam grades on-line. Before doing so for the first time, you must request a password. When typing in your student number, delete any leading zeros (e.g. if your student number is 0012345 type in 12345).

Tutorials

• Instructions on using PCTeX and a sample file for homework, if you want to learn this mathematical typesetting system for doing your homework.

Other links

• Important announcements and hints

• Selected slides from lectures These contain only some of the information presented in class. Viewing these is not a substitute for attending lecture!

  Files in this directory are of the form:

  • lecture1m.pdf -- From week 1, Monday, individual slides to view easily on-line.
  • lecture1m.ps -- From week 1, Monday, four slides to a page to print more easily (as distributed in class). Available only in postscript.

• Other handouts:
  • Some notes on adaptive quadrature (12/1):   adaptive directory   ...
  • Some notes on least squares (11/10):   .ps   ... .pdf
  • Introduction to interpolation (10/31):   .ps   ... .pdf

• First day handouts:
  • Information sheet:   .ps   ... .pdf
  • Questionnaire:   .ps   ... .pdf
  • Matlab Hints:   .ps   ... .pdf
  • Homework Guidelines:   .ps   ... .pdf

• MSCC lab (operating hours, location, etc.)

• ACMS Seminar (Interesting talks on mathematical topics aimed at undergraduates)

• Some Matlab resources available on the web:
  • The Matlab help desk where you can find useful introductory information under "Learning MATLAB"
  • MATLAB tutorial, a general introduction written by Peter Blossey for previous 352 classes.
  • brief tutorial on working with matrices in MATLAB
  • tutorial on plotting in MATLAB from MSCC. (ps file)
  • Matlab Hypertext Reference, Portland State University
  • Matlab Quick Reference Guide, University of Waterloo
  • List of Matlab Resources at Mathworks site
  • Many other Matlab tutorials can be found on the web with any search engine, e.g. Google.