Applied Linear Algebra and
Numerical Analysis

Bill Dickerson
Condon 810 [building map]
tel: 616-8703 (*don't* leave voice mails)
fax: 685-1440
dickrson@amath.washington.edu
office hours: Tuesdays: 3:35-5:00 @ MSCC, Thursdays 10:30-12:00 @ MSCC
(other times by appointment, just email me)

Matlab Helpers:

Justine G. O. Seo
MSCC Schedule

Announcements

Thursday 3/29/07: All homework/exam solutions have been removed from this website. The links remain, but the files are *gone*....

Sunday 3/18/07: Final Grades are posted here: gradesfinal.pdf. Your final projects, homework #7, and any other unclaimed papers are available for pickup in a *box* in Condon 810. Have a great Spring break!

Thursday 3/15/07: Solutions for the final project are posted in finalsoln.pdf. Once I have graded (by Friday) the finals, I'll post the revised grades online. Please contact me ASAP if there are any issues with grades, since grade sheets are due at the registrar's office on Monday morning. You may pickup your finals/old homeworks from a box in Condon 810 anytime after Friday 3/16/07. At some point in the near future, I will remove all *solutions* from the website, so please download anything you want soon. I enjoyed teaching you this quarter, and wish you the best in your future endeavors. --- Bill

Sun 3/11/07: Solutions for HW7 are posted in hw7soln.pdf. Grades up to HW6 are posted here: grades.pdf, listed by the last four digits of your student number. Please, check these against your records, and let me know if there are any problems before this Thursday. Remember that your lowest homework (out of 7) will be dropped.

Older announcements are archived here...

Computers / Access to MATLAB / Office Hours

to be held at:

Math Sciences Computing Center (MSCC):
The Math Sciences computing labs are located in the basement of the Communications Building, in Rooms B-022 and B-027.

Course Description

Development and application of numerical methods and algorithms to problems in the applied sciences and engineering. Applied linear algebra and introduction to numerical methods. Emphasis on use of conceptual methods in engineering, mathematics, and science.

Prerequisites: MATH 126 or MATH 136, Recommended: CSE 142

Textbook(s)

• Gerald Recktenwald, Numerical Methods with MATLAB, Prentice Hall.
  (Recommended - and available at the bookstore).
  • This is the Amazon Link for the Recktenwald text.
  • BE CAREFUL: there are numerous typos in this text, so make sure to check:
  • Errata page for the book.
  • The Matlab scripts that accompany this book are available on the PCs in the MSCC lab, or can be downloaded from here.
• Other Sources
  • Cleve Moler's FREE online Numerical Computing with MATLAB (Why not?)
  • Richard L. Burden, J. Douglas Faires, Numerical Analysis
  • Desmond J. Higham, Nicholas J. Higham, MATLAB Guide
• There are numerous books that cover similar material. You might want to look for books about "numerical methods" or "numerical analysis" in the library. Often, a quick trip into another book might save some frustration.
• Both the Recktenwald and Burden & Faires texts are on reserve at the Engineering Library

Learning Objectives and Instructor Expectations

The goal of this course is to introduce approximate numerical methods for solving mathematical problems that might be too tedious to solve by hand. We will try to understand how and why these methods work, and also how and why they might fail. We will study several basic numerical algorithms, how to implement them, and how to analyze their behavior mathematically.

To help explore various numerical methods, we will be using the software package MATLAB, and so MATLAB will play a significant role in this course. MATLAB has many built-in functions that you will learn for solving particular problems. It is a powerful tool, but this might take you some time to appreciate.

Schedule and Homework

There will be suggested reading assignments in addition to homework assignments out of the Recktenwald text. It is expected that the students will keep up with the reading in a timely basis. Follow links to the left for copies of the homework in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Once the homeworks are due, you will also find solutions to the homework and exam problems. For additional information regarding viewing and printing the homework and solution sets, click here.

Grading

150 points (50%) for 6 homeworks (25 points each),
150 points (50%) for 1 mideterm / 1 take-home final (75 points each)
300 points total

Homework: There will be 7 homework assignments due in-class. If you cannot get it in during class, then you may still turn in your homework in the AMATH352 envelope outside Condon 810 before 5:00 PM. Check the schedule for due dates. Each homework will be worth 25 points, and the lowest homework score will be dropped. Late homework is generally not accepted (except of course in case of documented medical emergencies), but one time you are allowed to turn it in the following class period with a 20% (5 point) deduction. I'll post homework solutions on the web site.

Exams: There will be one in-class midterm worth 75 points, and a final project/take-home exam worth 75 points. You may bring one 8-1/2"x11" sheet of handwritten notes (both sides) to the exam. Students are expected to take exams at the scheduled times. If a student is not able to take the exam because of an emergency, the instructor will need to be contacted BEFORE the exam. The final project will be something along the lines of a homework assignment, and will be due by 12:00 noon, Thursday, March 15th. At some point later in the quarter, you may view your homework and exam grades on-line.

Grading Disputes

If you have a minor "bookkeeping" complaint (points added up incorrectly or recorded wrong) then I will adjust grades on the spot. In all other cases, the following rules apply:

1. Please wait for the 24-hour "cooling down" period after a homework or exam is returned, before disputing your grade.
2. Attach a written explanation of why you think your grade is incorrect that indicates which item(s) is being disputed.
3. At my discretion, based on the strength of your appeal, your quiz/exam will be returned to the original grader for re-grading. Since we grade exams as a team, the grader may, or may not, be me.

Accommodations for Students of Disability

The University of Washington is firmly committed to providing equal educational opportunities to students with disabilities. If you are a student of disability, I invite you to discuss your needs and accommodation strategies with me in private. In particular, a letter from Disabled Student Services (DSS) will help provide us with the information we need to meet your needs.