AMSC/CMSC 460: Spring 2008


Computational Methods


Instructor:G. W. (Pete) Stewart
Office:AVW 3263
Phone:301 405 2681
Email: stewart@cs.umd.edu
Office Hours:After class or by appointment

TA:Fatemeh Mir Rashed
Office: AVW 1112
Email: fatemeh@cs.umd.edu
Office Hours1-3M, 2:30-4:30Th

Links for AMSC/CMSC 460

News, announcements, etc. Grades Assignments and exams
Matlab tutorial Matlab documentation OIT documentation
Textbook home page Afternotes: ps pdf

Course description

This course concerns basic computational methods for solving scientific and engineering problems. The emphasis is on the nature and use of the methods. The course AMSC/CMSC 466 gives a deeper mathematical treatment of the same methods.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for the course are advanced calculus, linear algebra, and the ability to program in one of the major programming languages (e.g., Fortran, C, C++, Matlab). In this class we will use Matlab exclusively; but if you have some programming experience, Matlab is very easy to pick up. The class links give contain a pointer to a Matlab primer and the Mathworks documentation. The text and its home page contain many useful examples.

Text

The text for the course will be

C. F. Van Loan Introduction to Scientific Computing (Second Edition)

Assignments and exams

The assignments will consist of homework and mini-Matlab projects. The former will emphasize the derivation and analysis of the algorithms treated in the course. The latter will explore the empirical properties and use of the algorithms.

There will be a midterm and a final exam. The final will be held Tuesday, May 20, 1:30-3:30pm in the regular classroom (CSI 1122).

Grading

In the final analysis, your grade represents my assessment of how well you have mastered the materials in the course. I generally use averages to guide me, but in borderline cases I may make exceptions. The averages will be computed as follows.
Midterm 25%
Final 30%
Projects 30%
Homework 15%
These percentages may change retroactively.

Policy

A grade of zero will be given to late homework and projects or missed exams unless prior arrangements have been made. Projects may be handed in up to twenty four hours late at the cost of a 15 point penalty. The only exceptions are documented emergencies. In particular, medical problems must be documented by a letter from your physician.

There will be no makeup for homework or projects, but if prior arrangements have been made, the missing assignments will not affect your grade.

For a period of two weeks after an assignment or exam, you may ask for a regrade. Thereafter the grade is frozen. With homework or projects you should first ask the TA to regrade. If you cannot reach an agreement, then come to me. For the midterm and final, come directly to me. Be sure to have your assignment or exam papers.

Makeup exams will be oral. Don't panic. It's not as bad as it sounds.

You must have a 50% average on the projects to pass the course.

Written parts of the assignments must be well organized and clearly written in standard English. The TA has been instructed not to spend much time trying to comprehend the incomprehensible.

I encourage you to discuss the homework and projects in a general way among yourselves. For example, you may trade general Matlab techniques, such as how to use the plotting functions. But what you turn in must be your own work in your own words and notation. Any undue similarity between your work and that of someone else will result in a reduction in grade for all parties. Flagrant violations will be referred to the appropriate university authorities.

I also encourage you to make use of the library, the web, and other references in solving problems. However, if you make substantial use of the ideas in a reference, you must cite it. You cannot lower your grade by such a citation.

Organization

Although my office hours read after class or by appointment, you can just show up at my office. I usually work with my door open; and unless I have a pressing deadline, I will be happy to see you. However, before you drive in from Annapolis or wherever, you might want to send me email and set up a time.

At the top of this page are various useful links, including the following.

I also make announcements and answer queries at the beginning of class. You are also responsible for this material, whether or not it makes it into the News. Be on time.

Homework and projects will be posted on alternate Thursdays and will be due two weeks thereafter. There will be no makeup for late homework or projects; but if prior arrangements have been made the missing assignment will not affect your average.

Projects that require that the TA run your programs will be graded on the Grace cluster. At the beginning of class you will be asked to get a glue account. If you don't already have one, here's the link. After a couple of days, I will request Grace accounts.

If you want to run on Grace from your personal computer, you will need to install ssh and Cygwin. See the Software downloads section in the CSMSC FAQ page.

If you develop your programs on other computers and they are to be run by the TA, make sure that they run on the Grace cluster.

Syllabus

With the exception of the first topic listed below, we will follow the text rather closely.
  1. Errors and computer arithmetic
  2. Polynomial interpolation
  3. Piecewise polynomial interpolation
  4. Numerical integration
  5. Matrix computation
  6. Solving systems of linear equations
  7. Solving linear least squares problem
  8. Solving nonlinear equations
  9. Ordinary differential equations