Math 141 Mathematical Modeling

Instructor

Professor Bob Dobrow
  Office: CMC 218
  Phone: 646-5633, E-mail:  rdobrow@carleton.edu
  Home page:  http://www.mathcs.carleton.edu/faculty/rdobrow
  Office Hours: Tues: 1-2 pm; Wed: 12:30-2:30 pm; Thur: 11 am-noon and 3-4 pm

Welcome to Mathematical Modeling. In this introductory course you will learn the basics of design, construction, and analysis of mathematical models in the natural sciences. Topics covered will include recurrence relations and difference equations, Markov chains and matrix algebra, and differential equations.

The text is A Course in Mathematical Modeling by Douglas Mooney and Randall Swift. (Mathematical Association of America). We will also work with Excel and Mathematica.

Your course grade will be based on class participation, homework, two projects, a quiz, a midterm exam, and a final. Your grade will be computed using the following weights.

Participation	5%
Homework	15%
Midterm projects (2)	10% each
Quiz	10%
Midterm exam	25%
Final Project/Exam	25%

You are welcome to collaborate with other students on homework but turn in your own work and write up all your solutions in your own words. Your homework should be presented neatly and clearly. Show all work. You are being graded on how you solve the problem. Use smooth-edged paper (not ripped out of a spiral notebook), put your name on each page, and staple pages together. Homework will be assigned every class period and due the next class period. Late or sloppy homework will not be accepted under any circumstances. In computing your final grade, I will delete your lowest homework score.

There will be several projects during the term which will require you to tackle an interesting applied problem, using the techniques and methods you learned in class. These projects will require thoughtfulness, care, and creativity. You might find that the questions and prompts posed in the projects are ambiguous, vague and ill-posed. This reflects the reality of how questions are raised in applied scientific work. The projects may not have any clear and straightforward solution, but may require you to imagine various approaches. Projects need to be written up neatly focusing on clarity. An emphasis will be placed on good writing and exposition. You may need to type up your project. Supporting material, such as computer output should be well-labeled. If you use data it should be included with your report. I should be able to recreate your results from what you turn in. Work needs to be explained so it's clear what you have done, and what you are doing. Pose questions clearly and carefully. Make sure the questions that were asked in the problem have been answered. Your tone should be thoughtful and measured. The project papers are a very different type of paper than what would usually be turned in for a math homework set. Put care into your work. Put yourself in the mindset of a consultant for a scientist who is genuinely interested in the question they are posing. You are writing for them, not for your math professor. Make sure to proofread your project reports several times--once for mathematical content but again for writing and clarity.

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