COP4313 - Symbolic Computations in Mathematics

Department of Mathematics, University of South Florida

SPRING 2003 MW04:00-05:15pm PHY209B

Instructor:

Dr. Wen-Xiu Ma, Office: PHY307, Phone: 974-3140.

Office Hours and Location:

M3:00-4:00pm and TR3:30-4:30pm (tentative) or by appointment, PHY307.

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:

MAS 3105 Linear Algebra, MAP 2302 Differential Equations, MGF 3301 Bridge to Abstract Mathematics, MAC 2283 Eng Calculus III or MAC 2313 Calculus III, or equivalent.

Course Text:

- W. E. Clark, Maple Worksheets (aka, lectures) on Symbolic Computations in Mathematics, Dept. of Math., USF, 2002.

- Lectures will be mostly based on Prof. Clark's Maple worksheets and 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.

- Here are the Maple worksheets for the course. Generally one "lecture" will be covered per week. Lecture 1, Lecture 2, Lecture 3, Lecture 4, Lecture 5, Lecture 6

Lecture 7, Lecture 8a, Lecture 8b, Lecture 9, Lecture 10, Lecture 11, Lecture 12

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

Software:

- The program we will use in this course is Maple 8. It is installed on almost all USF computers. The Student Edition of Maple 8 can be purchased from the University of South Florida Bookstore for about one hundred and thirty dollars. The Student Edition can only be licensed to full-time, registered students.

- For more details go to http://www.math.usf.edu/~mawx/maple_links_Maple8.html

Blackboard Website:

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. There is also a discussion board at the Blackboard course web site, administrated by the instructor.

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.

- 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.

- Here are the Homework Assignments for the course. Generally one assignment will be covered per week. Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Assignment 3 (assigned in Week 4), Assignment 4

Assignment 5, Assignment 6 (assigned in Week 8), Assignment 7, Assignment 8

Assignment 9, Assignment 10, Assignment 11, Assignment 12

Workload Distribution:

Homework: Homework assigned in Week 4 and Week 8 will be collected on Monday, February 3 and Monday, March 3 (tentative), respectively.

Examinations: There will be three examinations.

Exam 1. Week 6 - Monday, February 10 (tentative)
Exam 2. Week 11 - Monday, March 24 (tentative)
Final exam. 3:30pm-5:30pm, Friday, May 2 (tentative)

The contents covered by the exams will be announced in class. The final exam will be comprehensive. No make-up test.

Assessment Scheme:

- Regular and punctual attendance at classes is important and required. It will contribute towards 5% 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 of the first two exams counts for 25%. The final exam counts for 35%. Homework counts for 10% 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-, 80 for B-, 65 for C-, 50 for D-, 0-49 for F, and other letter grades will be assigned accordingly.