Math 382/382L
Spring 2012
Minutiae | Topics | SLO | Textbooks | Software | Grading
Rules | Student Conduct | Assignments
Notes and Other Downloads

Catalog Description

MATH 382/L. Introduction to Scientific Computing and Lab (2/1) Corequisite: MATH 262.This course gives students an introduction to basic numerical techniques and to programming using some of the common software packages used in mathematics. Students apply these techniques in projects from different branches of mathematics. [Note: This course does not replace a rigorous course in Numerical Analysis.] Two hours lecture, two hours lab.

No prior programming experience is expected. image by Dan Gerhard in Public Domain www.clker.com/clipart-2506.html We will study Python and Linux.

A laptop with at least 20 GB free space is strongly recommended.

Students will be able to use Linux on their laptops by using VMware player, a free virtualization program that will allow you to install Linux as an application that runs under either Windows or MacOS. If you already have Linux this will not be necessary.

The computer labs on campus run Fedora Linux, and this is recommended for your home installation if you want to be the most compatible with the campus system. You may use any other Linux system if you prefer.

Class Minutiae

Instructor: Bruce E Shapiro ← nosy people may click here
Email: bruce dot e dot shapiro at csun dot edu
Phone: Provided in Class (I do NOT use my CSUN office phone)
Office Hours: Hours and Location Provided in Class
(I do NOT use my office for office hours)
Class Web Page: http://biomathman.com/math382/ (all lower case)
Lectures 15604: Tuesday 2:00 - 3:40, CR 5119 (Chaparral Hall)
Lab 15605: Thursday 2:00 - 3:50, (Chaparral Hall Computer Lab)
Moodle: The moodle page is here

Topics Covered

  • Software and the internet; being you own system manager.
  • Text and Numbers in Computers; text editors
  • Mathematical type-setting with Latex
  • Operating systems and Linux; Installation; Basic Concepts
  • Basic scientific programming with Python; Installation; Basic Concepts
  • A variety of mathematical applications and examples: linear systems, principle component analysis, clustering, interpolation, least squares, root finding, fixed points, fractals, chaos, numerical solutions of differential equations.
  • Comprehensive Mathematical Environments: SAGE, Mathematica; Python is not that much different!

Student Learning Outcomes

General: Build mathematical models and demonstrate problem solving skills, including proper use of mathematical software.

Specific:

  1. How do we communicate mathematical and scientific information to one another using the computer?
  2. How do we express a mathematical or scientific model computationally?
  3. What is the relationship between mathematics and computing?
  4. How can we make mathematics computable, and computation mathematical?
  5. How do we obtain computationally meaningful results from a mathematical and computational model?

Textbooks - Mostly for Reference

I am not going to "follow" a textbook so you can get through the semester without actually buying anything. Here are some primary references that you may find useful. Note that the internet abounds with free books in Linux, Python and Latex and you can find lots of good references in these subjects by just Googling.

Software

While not required, is strongly recommended that you bring a laptop to class and to the lab sessions to ensure continuity between your lab work and whatever operating system you use at home. However, you will have to be your own system administrator. I can help you with installations but I can't do it for you.

Name/Download Link Description and Notes. Alternative Downloads for Slower Computers

VMware Player

VMware is a virtualization package - that means that it allows you to emulate one type of computer on another.

If you have either Windows or Mac OS this will allow you to install a Linux Operating System as an application within your existing operating system. Thus it will not require you to reboot your computer to shift from one OS to the other, and you can safely delete the entire folder at the end of the semester (if you want to), without any need to reinstall your current OS. It will not affect anything currently on your computer, it will just add one more application.

Fedora Linux

This is the current version of the Linux Operating System that is installed on campus.

You will need to download the .iso file. You will not need to burn a CD because VMware can connect to the .iso file and pretend that it is a CD.

All remaining software will be downloaded withing VMware after creating and a virtual Linux operating system. We will install these using the package manager:

  • texlive
  • texmaker
  • Python
  • Python-tools
  • Python-matplotlab
  • Python-basemap
  • Numpy
  • Scipy

Grading

  

Not responsible for You Tube content.

Grades for 382/382L will be combined (you will get the same grade in both classes).

Final (counts as 1/3 of your total grade): Tuesday May 15, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (as set by SOLAR)

Assignments (counts as 2/3 of your total grade); approximately one assigment every two weeks.

Late-Homework Policy: 20% reduction up to one week late; 50% reduction thereafter.

Rules - Read closely, some of them will sound a bit odd to you.

Don't Cheat. Follow the Student Conduct Code at all times. More in the next box.

Attendance is Mandatory - remember to sign in every class session. Your grade will be reduced for missing too many sessions.

Cell Phones - turn off the ringers, please.

Smelly Food - don't bring it.

Other Food - bring enough to share with the whole class. You'll be surprised how many friends you can make with a few chocolate chip cookies.

Strong Smelling Perfumes, Colognes, and other Stinkys: - don't use them.

Audio/Video/Photographic Technology - do not use during class. This includes all cameras and recorders of any type. Exceptions will be made if recommended by DRES (the campus Center on Disability Resources and Educational Services).

Student Conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves in accord with university policies on Student Conduct and Academic Dishonesty. Violation of this code could be punishable by a failing grade in the class or removal from the university, as determined by Dean of Students.

I require students to sign an affirmation that they will abide by the student conduct code (and not cheat in this class) and to reaffirm this contract at each exam. If you are uncomfortable signing this affirmation you should not enroll in this class.

The student conduct code is posted at: http://www.csun.edu/a&r/soc/studentconduct.html and is in the University Catalog, Appendix E.

Special Learning Needs

Please coordinate any special accommodations that you need through the campus Center on Disability Resources and Educational Services.

Feel free to talk to me about this if you are not sure whether or not your special need should be handled via DRES.

If you are not familiar with DRES, check their web page at http://www.csun.edu/dres to make an appointment or to see what services are available.

In particular if you need special testing arrangements I will need to know at least two weeks in advance. Please make sure to get all of your paperwork signed as soon as possible. If you are going to bring additional people to class (note-taker, interpreter, etc.) please let me know that as soon as possible so that I can take that information into account so that I can make a correct determination of how much additional space (seats) remain in the class.

Assignments

Assignments are posted on the Downloads Page

Any of your papers which you do not collect will be retained for a period of one year following the end of the term. If you do not collect them by this time they will be destroyed.

Final exams are not returned and may not be copied. If you wish to see your final you may do so by making an appointment with me.

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