MATH 128 (Spring 2015):

Numerical Linear Algebra, Block J+ TR, 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm, Eaton 206.  Download Syllabus

Office Hours:

TR 9:30am-11:30am, or by appointment. 

Requried Materials:

Numerical Linear Algebra and Applications, Second Edition, by Biswa Nath Datta, published by SIAM Philadelphia.

In addition, there will be programming assignments that require the implementation of some computer language. The programming for this course can be done in any language that you choose.  MATLAB is recommended and is probably the easiest to pick up if you are not familiar with any other. All Tufts students have access to MATLAB in the ITS Computing Center at Eaton Hall.  Tufts University also provides Student License for MATLAB, you can follow the instruction on \texttt{https://it.tufts.edu/sw-matlabstudent} and install MATLAB on your own computers.  An alternative to MATLAB is Octave.  An possibility is Python with numpy/scipy/matplotlib. If you would like to use another option, please discuss this with me.

Recommended Reading Materials:

Matrix Computations, Fourth Edition, by  Gene H. Golub and Charles F. Van Loan, JHU Press
Numerical Linear Algebra, by Lloyd N. Trefethen and David Bau, III, SIAM Philadelphia.

Homework

There will be about $10$ homework assignments during the semester.  Some portions will involve programming.  All codes should be printed and turned in with the resulting outputs.  In addition, you should write up the answers based on the programming portion of the assignment in a report style, using figures and tables to justify your answers.

You are encouraged to collaborate with other students and to check your solutions. However, you must submit your own solutions in your own writing for the assignments.

Exams and Grading:

The full department policy on exams and grading can be found on the department website http://math.tufts.edu/courses/examPolicy.htm, as well as the university's http://uss.tufts.edu/studentAffairs/documents/HandbookAcademicIntegrity.pdf.  Students found violating these policies will receive an F in the course and be reported to the Dean of Students.

Grades:

Let M be your score on the midterm exam, F be your score on the final exam, and H be your total homework score. These are scores out of 100.  Your total course score will be the larger of the following two numbers:
                                                                    .3 H + .3 M + .4 F or .35 H + .1 M +.55 F.
This score will be translated into a grade following a conversion table that you can find on the mathematics department web page, at http://math.tufts.edu/courses/gradingSchemes.htm.

Student Accessibility Services:
If you are requesting an accommodation due to a documented disability, you must register with the Student Accessibility Services Office at the beginning of the semester. To do so, call the Student Accessibility Services office at 617-627- 4539 to arrange an appointment with Linda Sullivan, Program Director of Student Accessibility Services.

Learning Objectives:
This course satisfies Learning Objectives 1.b, 1.e, and 6.a as listed at http://ase.tufts.edu/faculty/committees/objectives/math.htm.