COP4313-001 Symbolic Computations in Mathematics

Department of Mathematics, University of South Florida

SPRING 2005 MW 04:00pm-05:15pm PHY209B

Instructor:

Dr. Wen-Xiu Ma, Office: PHY310, Phone: 974-9563.

Office Hours and Location:

MW 2:00pm-3:00pm (tentative) or by appointment, PHY310.

Course Objectives:

Upon completing the course, students will be able to understand the Maple language and to employ Maple to perform various symbolic computations in mathematics.

Prerequisites:

MAP2302 Differential Equations, MAS3105 Linear Algebra, MGF3301 Bridge to Abstract Mathematics, MAC2283 Eng Calculus III or MAC2313 Calculus III or equivalent.

Course Texts:

- W. E. Clark and W. X. Ma, Maple Worksheets (aka, lectures) on Symbolic Computations in Mathematics, Dept. of Math., USF, 2005.

- Lectures and homework assignments will be added weekly to the course web sites as they are completed. In addition, Maple has extensive documentation and examples of use built in to the program. Instructions will be given on how to access this information.

- Notes or tapes of class lectures are not permitted for purposes of sale.

Software:

- The computer algebra system that we will use in this course is Maple 9.5. All students registered for this course are eligible to use a promotion code to purchase Maple 9.5 from the Maplesoft web store for the reduced price of $75 (for download option). The promotion code can be obtained from the instructor upon request.

- Purchase includes one copy of the Maple 9.5 Getting Started Guide and the Maple 9 Learning Guide. These books are helpful but not necessary for the course. The lectures in the form of Maple worksheets will be self-contained and will be made available free of charge.

Blackboard Web Site:

The Blackboard course web site can be entered via the university web single sign-on portal at myUSF Online, from which all Maple worksheets, homework assignments, supplementary materials, etc. will be available for download.

Homework Assignments:

- There will be twelve homework assignments for the course. All designed exercises will help you to develop your skills and your ability to apply the techniques you have learned to concrete situations.

- You are required to do all homework exercises. Doing exercises is the best way to deepen your understanding of the topics and to convince yourself that you understand them.

- Homework assigned in Week 2, Week 7, and Week 12 will be collected for grading, on January 24 (Monday, Week 3), February 28 (Monday, Week 8) and April 11 (Monday, Week 13) (tentative), respectively.

Examinations:

- There will be three examinations.

Exam 1. February 9 (Wednesday, Week 5) ( tentative).
Exam 2. March 23 (Wednesday, Week 10) (tentative).
Final exam. 6:00pm-8:00pm, May 4 (Wednesday, Exam Week)), in PHY209B (tentative).

The contents covered by the exams will be announced in class.

- Attendance at examinations is mandatory. No make-up exam will be given except in the most extenuating of circumstances. If you are sick, a note signed by the physician indicating that you were physically unable to attend class is necessary in order to postpone the exam. A receipt from the infirmary is not a valid excuse. Any sort of excuse must be documented in some manner (prayer cards, tow truck receipts, subpoenas, etc.). You must contact the instructor prior to the exam if circumstances warrant that you cannot attend.

Grading Policy:

- Regular and punctual attendance at classes is important and required. It will contribute towards 10% of your final score.

NB: Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second class meeting.

- Each exam accounts for 25%, and homework, 15% plus 5% as bonus points. Your final score will be computed by these weights, the maximum being 105.

- A plus/minus grading system will be used for the course. Course letter grades will be decided based on final scores as follows: 90 for A-, 75 for B-, 60 for C-, 50 for D-, 0-49 for F, and other letter grades will be assigned accordingly.

Collaboration Rules:

Discussion of the homework between students is encouraged; however, electronically copying your classmates' work is not permitted. You may let your classmates read your solution. But under no circumstances should you email a program to your classmates or otherwise allow some of your classmates to electronically copy your program.