Elementary Numerical Analysis I

Fall, 2009

Lecture: MWF, 14:00-14:50, 103 Peterson

Instructor: Yuan Xu, Office: Deady 11 B, Telephone: 346-4729, e-mail: yuan@uoregon.edu .

Webpage: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~yuan/Teaching/M351.html

Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00 or by appointment.

Textbook

Cheney/Kincaid: Numerical Mathematics and Computing, 6ed. (There is some helpful information available on the textbook's web site: http://www.ma.utexas.edu/CNA/NMC5/).

Course description

Numerical analysis studies methods and algorithms for mathematical computation. This course is the first half of a two term sequence. We will cover most of the Chapters 1-6 of the textbook. Topics include: approximations by Taylor series, representation of numbers in different bases, loss of significance, methods for locating roots of equations, polynomial interpolation, and numerical integration. It will certainly be a plus if you have some skill of writting computer program. However, the emphasis is on the mathematical aspects of the algorithms rather than on the computer language used to implement them. We will use Mathematica to handle examples.

Mathematica

For the in-class computer demonstrations we will use Mathematica , a powerful computer program for symbolic and numerical mathematical computations. You may also want to use it for your homework and project. Mathematica is installed in most of the computer labs on campus. You can also purchase Student Edition of Mathematica at the UO Bookstore. If you want to learn mathematica, you can start from the following notebook.
Introduction to Mathematica
Here are a few Mathematica notebooks related to the course that you can use. More will be posted later in the term.
An example
Taylor Series
Find Root
Polynomial interpolation
Numerical Integration

Homework

There will be a homework assignment for each week. You can check the assignments here. Homework will be collected each Wednesday in class on the material of the previous week. Late homework will not be accepted. Your lowest homework score will be dropped. It is very important to keep up with your homework. Start it early, do not wait until the night before you have to turn it in.

Project

Part of your grade will be based on a programming or research project due on the last day of class. Possible projects include implementing the algorithms discussed in class in your favorite programming language, or researching a numerical analysis topic. A list of suggested projects will be posted after the midterm.

project.pdf

Exams

There will be one midterm exam in class on Wednesday, November 4. If you must miss this exam due to extraordinary circumstances, you must get my permission and schedule a make-up exam in advance. The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, December 10 at 15:15 in 103 Peterson.

Grade

Your course grade will be based on your homework, project, midterm and final.

Homework:	20%
Project:	20%
Midterm Exam:	30%
Final Exam:	30%

Incomplete

Incomplete are only awarded in the Mathematics Department when two criteria have been satisfied: first, a student must have a passing grade at the time the I is assigned; secondly, some work could not be completed due to extenuating circumstances (illness, auto accident, etc.). Under no circumstances will an I be awarded as a substitute for a W, D or F/N . If you find yourself in trouble, drop the course!