M435 Projects in Applied Mathematics Fall 2005

This course allows students to explore a range of mathematical techniques and applications in extended projects.

Prerequisites: M229, M340 or M345 or M355 and preparedness to program in Matlab.

Instructor: Professor Michael Kirby, Kirby@math, Weber 221.

Grading policy

The final grade will be determined the evaluation of

• 4 group reports (submission in LaTex required) 80% (20% each)
• class participation 5%
• report presentation 15%

Groups

All work will be done in groups. The groups will be randomly selected for each project.  Each group will receive a single grade for each project.

Project Reports

Each of the first 3 projects will require about 4 weeks to complete. The mathematics modeling competition problem will be done over the last 3 weeks and presented during the class’s finals period. Each group will submit a jointly written single report. One student per group will present the report such that everyone presents at least once during the semester.

Sample Report Outline

General Introduction to the Problem

• problem statement
• why is it interesting?

Mathematical theory and modeling approach

Results

Use Figures embedded in the text and cited in the text.

Interpretation

• Predictions, added value.
• Weaknesses of the approach

Conclusions and Summary

     Answer the questions: 

• what did you learn about this question that you could not have discovered without your mathematics?
• if you had 3 months to work on this problem what would you do?   

Appendices

• Matlab Code
• Background information or theory