MAT 305: Mathematical Computing I
Fall 2011
Instructor information
Instructor: Dr. John Perry
Office: Southern Hall, 317C
Office Hours: MWF 10—11a, 5-6p
Office Phone: 601·266·5505
Email: john.perry@usm.edu
Instructor's web page:
http://www.math.usm.edu/perry/
Class web page: http://www.math.usm.edu/perry/mat305fa11/
Class meeting times and
locations:MWF 11-11·50a, SH 318
Course information
Course
Description:
Introduction to a computer algebra system using calculus-based
projects. Students will solve mathematical problems in the Maple
SAGE environment which require an understanding of calculus concepts.
Prerequisite:
MAT 280 (Multivariable Calculus, but as far as I'm concerned you can have it as a co-requisite).
Texts and media:
- Required:
- Python
Programming: an Introduction to Computer Science, Zelle,
Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc., 2004.
- Optional:
- The SAGE computer
algebra system. (I can burn it onto a DVD for you if you desire.)
- Mathematical
Computing: An Introduction to Programming Using Maple,
Betounes and Redfern, Springer TELOS, 2002.
- The Maple computer algebra system. (I cannot give you a copy, and I will not require you to work in this system.)
Last day to drop a full-semester course without academic
penalty: Wednesday, 5 October
Final Exam: Wednesday, 14 December, 10·45a—1·15p
Grading policies
Grading: Your
grade depends on a weighted average of attendance and assignments.
A list of weights appears below. At any point during the semester, you
may determine your
standing by multiplying the
average for each category
by the category's weight, then adding the products.
| Book
assignments |
40%
of total |
| Individual projects |
30%
of total |
Team
projects
|
20%
of total |
| Team evaluations | 10% of total |
Grades are awarded according to the
following tableaux:
| 100-90 A |
89.99-80 B |
79.99-70 C |
69.99-60 D |
59.99-0 F |
There is no curve.
Late Assignments:
Any assignment turned
in past the specified due date and time will receive a grade lowered by
one
letter grade for each school day late.
Makeup work:
There are no tests, so makeup work is not possible.
Team projects:
For several projects, you will work in teams. The teams will change with each project.
- I will give time in class for the teams to meet, but it will not suffice to complete the project. You should therefore
exchange phone numbers and emails, and arrange times for meetings. It is natural,
and expected, that some people will contribute more than others to the final result. However, each member should provide a full effort.
- You receive two grades for each team project.
- I
award one grade to each member of the team, depending on whether the
submitted material satisfies the requirements of the project. This is
the team project grade.
- In
addition, each team member submits on a separate sheet of paper a grade
for each of the other members' contribution. I record the average of
those grades as the team evaluation of a student.
- The grade is on a 0—10 scale.
- Team evaluations are anonymous; no one will ever see which member awarded what grade.
- Any
student who receives a poor team evaluation receives a warning, and
will have to meet with me to discuss strategies for success on future
projects.
- Any student who receives a second poor team evaluation will complete the remaining assignments as individual projects.
- At my option, I may request to meet with you and ask the reasons
for the score you gave. If you cannot provide an explanation that
satisfies me, I will throw out your score, but not otherwise penalize
you. I
will probably never do this, but I must reserve the option in order to
prevent personal relationships from interfering with class.
Other policies
Additional class materials:
- Type or use a pencil. I do not accept work that is written in pen.
My beef with mobile phones
Mobile phones are not merely useful for business, they are by now necessary.
For
personal
use, however, they a curse on the human race. We lived for thousands of
years without them and never once felt a pressing need to interrupt a
class, a worship service, or a business meeting so as to remind someone
of our undying love. The vast majority of communications sent by mobile
phones constitute a waste of time and an insult to human intelligence.
Why else would the manufacturers invest so much energy selling them to
teenagers?
Imagine: we once considered it a
vice to answer quickly! An intelligent
answer requires one to think
before speaking.
Lovers once waited days or even weeks before
a letter arrived from one's beloved. They caressed the paper in their hands,
breathed the aroma of a drop of perfume left on the page,
glanced at the postmark, and asked why the Post Office
took so long to deliver such a precious package. They then waited days or even
weeks to send and receive replies. This includes people who lived down
the street!
By contrast, modernity considers a silent pause following a question to be a mark of ignorance, dishonesty, even
mental deficiency. As the enemy of
elegant speech and intelligent conversation, mobile phones, popular music, and television
have contributed more to the decline of discretion, intimacy, and privacy
than any common gossip, media outlet, or government surveillance program
could hope to do.
Please, turn off your phone before entering the classroom.
Text messaging, wearing an earpiece, etc. are prohibited and will lead to expulsion.
Language and behavior: I
do not tolerate profanity or rude behavior. You
are free to express any opinion you choose, but you must do so in a
manner that conforms to the formal, respectful setting of a classroom lecture. Mathematicians
value the ability to reason and to solve problems, not the ability to inflame passions or to express oneself colorfully.
- If a student violates this policy during lecture, I will
ask that student to leave the room immediately. The student's
attendance grade will not be affected.
- If a student violates this policy in email, I will neither
acknowledge nor answer the email.
- I
am not concerned with what you say or write in other
forums. Feel free to express your opinions of me and the course in
whatever manner you choose.
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ADA
Syllabus Statement
If a student has a
disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for
Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies
and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning,
psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders.
Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical
condition/disability qualifies.
Address:
The University of
Southern Mississippi
Office for Disability Accommodations
118 College Drive # 8586
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Voice Telephone: (601) 266-5024 or (228) 214-3232
Fax: (601) 266-6035
Individuals with hearing impairments can contact
ODA using the Mississippi Relay
Service
at 1-800-582-2233 (TTY) or
email Suzy Hebert at Suzanne.Hebert@usm.edu.
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