Math 311: Spring 2003 Course Syllabus

Instructor: Kamlesh Parwani, Room B22 Lunt Hall
Time and Place: 6:30PM to 9:00PM at 339 East Chicago Ave.

Email: forty2@math.northwestern.edu
office: 847-491-2853

Office Hours: before or after class and by appointment.
Course web page: http://www.math.northwestern.edu/~forty2/appmath.html/

Book: Introduction to Applied Mathematics by Gilbert Strang.


What is this Applied Math?

Applied Mathematics is many things—it is a lot of Linear Algebra, some Calculus, Fourier Analysis, Complex Variables, graph theory and combinatorics, and Linear Programming.  This course introduces all these concepts and uses them to solve basic problems that arise in mechanics, electrical circuits, networking, and in simple optimization concerns.  The main goal is to get through the first four chapters in Strang’s book, and then if time permits, cover some material from the last two chapters.

Even though the class is called “Introduction to Applied Mathematics”, it is very theoretical.  Students are required to understand proofs; the philosophy is conceptual understanding must precede any application.

How you will be evaluated:

Grading:
                        Maple           5
                        Quizzes        25
                        Midterm        30
                        Final Exam     40
                        Total         100

This grading scheme is tentative and changes may be made.  All changes will be announced well in advance of the final exam.

The class will consist of both lecture and discussion. There will be a short quiz every week after a question and answer session devoted to understanding the material better.  There will be homework problems assigned every week also. Students are encouraged to do the homework as working on these problems is the best way to learn the material and do well in the class, but however, these homework assignments will not be graded and will not count towards the final grade

The final exam will cover the entire course.

Also, visit http://www-math.mit.edu/18085/.  This contains links to streaming video lectures delivered by Gilbert Strang on this subject.