CSCI:351:R1         Numerical Computing           Spring, 2010
                                                     1st 7 weeks
                            Syllabus



   Instructor:   Kenneth Brakke

   Office:       009 Seibert Hall

   Office phone: 4466

   Office hours: 3:00 - 4:00 MWF, 9:00 - 11:00 TTh officially.
         I am usually in my office 8:30 to 5:00 except for
         lunch and my other classes (11:15-12:20 MWF and 1:45-2:50 MWF).
         You can also make an appointment.

   Text: Numerical Analysis, 2nd Ed. by Francis Scheid, 
         Schaum's Outlines, 1988.  

   Software: Mostly we will be using Excel spreadsheets.
         We will sometimes use the mathematics program MatLab,
         which is available to all on the campus network at
         \\mathserver\matlab\bin\matlab.exe.

   Course goals: To learn how computers do familiar mathematical
         calculations.  Basic arithmetic, rounding errors,
         roots of equations, interpolation, function approximation,
         trigonometric functions, logarithms, exponentials,
         numerical differentiation and integration.  No programming
         experience is assumed, and only freshman-level mathematics.
         The emphasis is on basic algorithms, rather than theory, 
         but due attention will be paid to error estimates.

   Grading:    Homework       100 points
               Midterm        100 points 
               Final exam     150 points comprehensive
                              ----------
               Total          350 points

   The exact correspondence between points and letter grades
   will be determined at the end of the semester.  It is usually
   close to the traditional 90-80-70-60 cutoffs, but I reserve 
   the right to modify it.

   Homework is due daily at the start of class, and will be graded.
   Late homework will get partial credit at most, unless previous
   arrangements have been made.

   Roll will not be taken, but frequent absences will be noticed.
   You are still subject to the attendence policy in the Student
   Handbook.

   Policy on cheating: Don't.  Studying together to understand the
   material is fine, but the work you hand in is to be your own.
   See the Student Handbook statement on academic honesty.