Math 285
Methods of Applied Mathematics

Homework
Lagrange

Time:

Tuesday and Thursday, 3:25 - 4:40

Place:

Bausch and Lomb 315

Textbook:

Methods of Applied Mathematics, Gilbert Strang

Prerequisite:

You should have some knowledge of linear algebra, from either 165, 235, the 170 series, or elsewhere.

Grade:

= 45% Final + 35% Midterm + 20% Homework

Midterm:

In class, Tuesday, March 4

Final:

Saturday May 10, 8:30-11:30am

Professor:

Carl Mueller
802 Hylan
585-275-3498
carl3m-urmathmath yahoo commath

Office hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:00 - 2:00

Course Description

We will cover approximately the first three chapters of the book. We will be studying the kind of mathematics that comes up over and over again in engineering and physics problems -- principally techniques from linear algebra, calculus and differential equations.

One of the themes of the book is that the discrete mathematics (linear algebra) and the continuous mathematics are closely related. In both cases one creates a mathematical model of a scientific phenomenon and then uses the tools of mathematics to predict attributes of the model. Our emphasis will be on the second half of this project. We will also see that the notion of minimizing "energy" arises over and over again.