OR 481, MATH 446: Numerical Methods

Spring 1998
Tuesday, Thursday 3:00-4:15, Robinson A111
 

Professor

Stephen G. Nash
Science and Technology II, Room 121
phone: (703) 993-1678
office hours: Tuesday 5:00-6:00, Thursday 1:30-2:30, or by appointment
electronic mail: snash@gmu.edu
fax: (703) 993-1521 (on cover sheet put: S. Nash, ORE Dept.)

Text

Ward Cheney and David Kincaid,
Numerical Mathematics and Computing, 3rd edition
Brooks/Cole (1994)

(Optional) The Student Edition of Matlab (appropriate version),
Prentice-Hall

Course Summary

The objectives of this course are to:

• Understand the fundamentals of algorithm design.
• Learn how numerical methods are constructed and used for solving computational problems common in engineering and statistics.
• Become experienced and sophisticated users of numerical software.

Since this course is designed to develop computational skills, use of the computer will play an important role. There will be a number of choices of computers that you can use, and these will be discussed in the first class. Although the computer will be used extensively, heroic computer programming will not be required.

There will be no exams, although there will be short quizzes at regular intervals. Students will be expected to complete three group projects, plus two individual projects. I will discuss the projects in class. The results of the projects will be presented in written reports, and the quality of the reports will be a factor in grading. All class work must be turned in by 9:30am on Tuesday, May 12.

Grading

• 5% Individual Project 1
• 60% Group Projects 2, 3, and 5
• 30% Individual Project 4
• 5% Quizzes

Course Schedule (tentative)

• 1/20: Basics: algorithm design and arithmetic (Chapters 1 and 2)
• 1/27: Basics
• 2/ 3: Nonlinear equations (Chapter 3)
• 2/10: Nonlinear equations
• 2/17: Interpolation (Chapter 4)
• 2/24: Interpolation
• 3/ 3: Linear equations (Chapter 6)
• 3/10: [no classes; spring break)
• 3/17: Linear equations
• 3/24: Spline functions (Chapter 7)
• 3/31: Spline functions
• 4/ 7: Differential equations (Chapters 8 and 9)
• 4/14: Differential equations
• 4/21: Animation and 3-D graphics
• 4/28: Animation and 3-D graphics
• 5/ 5: [finish up projects]
• 5/12: All course work due by 9:30am