Course:
Mathematics 210 A, Introduction to Computer Algebra Systems (CAS), Spring
2002, Central College.
Professor: Tom
Linton , 312 B Central Hall, (641) 628-5264, email: lintont@central.edu.
Class Meets: T-Th 2:00 to 2:50 PM in Central Hall
310, for half of the semester (1-14 to 3-7).
Office Hours: 1 PM Mon and Thur, 9 AM Tues, 10:00
AM Fri, or by appointment.
Text: Schaum's Outlines Mathematica, by
Eugene Don.
Web Details: The class web page can be accessed
from http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont and information relevant
to this course may come via email. There is a class drop folder (where
you drop off completed assignments and pick up new assignments) located
on the G drive under Lintont/Math210.
Final Exam: No final exam is planned for this
class.
Class Overview
This is a ONE-CREDIT class designed to give you a solid background in using
a Computer Algebra System (CAS). We will explore Mathematica,
one of the leading CAS's in today's marketplace. Mathematica is an incredibly
useful and powerful piece of software, capable of adding enormous insight
into a wide variety of problems and flat out solving many questions that
you might encounter in a variety of courses. Mathematica contains commands
that perform nearly all of the skills taught through the sophomore mathematics
curriculum (so it can solve and plot equations, maximize functions, factor
polynomials, take derivatives or antiderivatives, invert matrices, and
much more) as well as a full programming language (much more robust than
BASIC, PASCAL or C). Our primary goal will be to gain an appreciation for
this program's power and usefulness and to learn enough about Mathematica
so that we readily turn to Mathematica to investigate (or solve) challenging
problems in future classes. This will be a challenging goal that is well
worth your serious time and commitment.
Goals and Objectives Upon completing this
class, students will
-
Appreciate the power and usefulness of a Computer Algebra System such as
Mathematica.
-
Be comfortable using a CAS such as Mathematica.
-
Be able to utilize a CAS in a sophisticated manner, readily turning to
a CAS to investigate (or solve) challenging problems in future classes.
-
Be able to complete assignments made in other mathematics classes that
utilize the CAS studied.
-
Become familiar with using Mathematica's online help browser.
Grades
This class is offered only on a pass-no credit basis. At this time, I see
no reason for exams nor quizzes, but I reserve the right to schedule midterm
and final exams, or quizzes (if I get the feeling that everyone is working
diligently on the class, there will be no exams or quizzes, but ...). I
believe the best way to learn Mathematica is by using the software
to investigate and solve problems that interest you.To this end, we will
work through several modules or activities, written here at Central, designed
to introduce various features of Mathematica in a mathematical context
(thus, some mathematical background will prove useful). Each activity will
have a point value, typically 25 to 50 points. I encourage you to work
in groups on several of these assignments (this does not mean that copying
other's answers is allowed however), but certain things must be completed
individually. To receive credit for the class, you will need to score about
70% (or better) on each assignment. I will drop one assignment, if your
class participation is high. All work submitted for this class will be
done electronically (typically a Mathematica notebook).
Class Participation and Attendance: There will be 50 points based
on your class participation (asking questions, taking part in discussions,
contributing to your group in activities, etc.) and attendance. I will
determine your score for these 50 points. You are responsible for all of
the material covered in class each day, even if you are not present.
Late assignments and academic dishonesty: Late activities, etc.
will be penalized by 10% each lecture they are late. Plagiarism, or copying
answers from other people or books without citing the source is a serious
offense and will result in no credit for the work. It is OK to discuss
your answers with other groups on group assignments, but the work
you turn in must be your own.
If any student has a physical, learning or psychiatric disability that
restricts the development or expression of your gifts, please feel free
to let me know so that we can, when possible, make accommodations that
will enhance your classroom experience.
Materials
Off Site Links
Hundreds of links to Mathematica related things are located at Wolfram.com.
Be sure to look at MathSource.
A list of many Mathematica
related sites (not all of which are useful).
Local Activities
An introduction to Mathematica,
its quirks, cells, power, and Help Browser.
Drawing a face and other things with 2D
Graphics objects.
Hills and valleys, using
the derivative to pin down and frame pretty pictures of f[x].
Tables in Mathematica: one of
the most useful and powerful commands, Table[] is introduced.
Powers of Powers, investigations
of the sequence x, x^x, x^x^x, and so on.
IRA notebook, a look at more uses
of the Table[] command, and investment calculations.
3D Graphics, working with
surfaces, f[x,y], contour plots, and 3D lines and points.
Gradient Search, using
the gradient as a direction to move up or down hill fast.
Color Graph, automatically
changing colors on the graph of a function.
Schedule
Relevant information will be added to this schedule as we progress through
the semester. An up to date version is available on line at http://www.central.edu/homepages/lintont/classes/spring02/casframeset.html#schedule.
|
Week
|
Dates
|
Sections in text
|
Assignment
|
|
1
|
1-15, 17
|
Chapter 1
2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8, 4.1, 4.2
|
Mathematica introduction
2DGraphics
|
|
2
|
1-22, 24
|
6.1, 6.2, 8.2
|
Hills and Valleys
|
| 3 |
1-29, 31 |
chapter 3 |
Tables |
| 4 |
2-5, 7 |
2.9, 2.10 |
powers of powers |
| 5 |
2-12, 14 |
chapter 3 |
IRA's |
| 6 |
2-19, 21 |
chapter 5 |
3D Graphics |
| 7 |
2-26, 28 |
chapter 5 |
Gradient Search |
| 8 |
3-4, 6 |
|
color graph |
| |
|
Class complete |
|