Math 111: Linear Mathematical Modeling (Fall 2009)

3:00pm - 4:15pm, TR, DK, Room 1006

Instructor: Daniel M. Anderson (231 Science and Technology I, 703-993-1482, danders1@gmu.edu)
Office Hours: Tuesday 4:30-5:30PM, Thursday 4:30PM-5:30PM, and by appointment.

Text: Finite Mathematics and Its Applications Goldstein, Schneider \& Siegel (Prentice-Hall), 10th ed. and Math 111 Course Notes (available in the GMU bookstore).

Prerequisites: Passing grade on the Mathematics Placement Test for Math 111.

Course Goals: This course meets the quantitative reasoning requirement, one of the Foundation requirements of the University General Education program. The goal of the Foundation requirement is to help ensure that students are equipped with the tools and techniques necessary to succeed in college and throughout their lives and careers. Specific topics in this course include matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, Markov processes, difference equations and data fitting.

Exams: There will be three midterm exams and one final exam. Midterm exam dates and topics listed below are tentative and will be confirmed in class. You are responsible for being aware of any changes announced in class. With some possible exceptions that will be explained clearly in class, no calculators will be allowed on exams. Makeup exams will not be given. In the event that one exam is missed and (1) a valid, documented excuse is given in writing to the instructor at the time of the absence and (2) the student provides sufficient evidence to the instructor that he/she is keeping up with the topics in the course, the final exam score will count in place of the missed exam. The instructor will determine whether an excuse is valid. Without a valid documented excuse given at the time of the exam, a missed exam will count as a zero. If more than one midterm exam is missed, that situation will be dealt with on an individual basis.

Ungraded Homework: Problem sets from the sections in the textbook will be assigned regularly. Although these will not be collected, success in this class depends strongly on completing and understanding these problems. Working together on ungraded homework is encouraged but each student is ultimately responsible for understanding the material.

Graded Homework: There will be four graded assignments that will require the use of the mathematical software package Matlab. Specific instructions will follow.

Grading Policy:
Homework = 20%
Midterm exams = 60% (20% each)
Final Exam = 20%

In general, 90%-100% = A, 80%-89% = B, 70%-79% = C, 60%-69% = D, below 60% = F. Plus and minus grades will correspond to approximately 3% below or above these cutoff values (e.g. 87%--89% =B+, 80%--83% = B-). I reserve the right to lower the curve, but will not raise the curve.

Topics Covered
Chapter 1 (1.1-1.5): Linear Equations and Straight Lines; Least Squares;
Chapter 2 (2.1-2.6): Matrices; Solving Linear systems; Operations on Matrices; Inverse of a Matrix; Input-Output Analysis;
Chapter 8 (8.1-8.3): Markov Processes;
Chapter 11 (11.1-11.5): Difference Equations;
Course Notes: Data Fitting;

Important Dates:
Tuesday, September 29, Midterm Exam 1: 1.1-1.5, 2.1,2.2
Tuesday, October 12, Fall Recess (no Tuesday classes, Monday classes meet on Tuesday)
Thursday, October 29, Midterm Exam 2: 2.1-2.6
Tuesday, November 24, Midterm Exam 3: 8.1-8.3,11.1,11.2
Thursday, December 10 (our last day of class)
Tuesday, December 15, 1:30am--4:15pm Final Exam
See see Registrar's calendar for other important dates

Final Exam: The final exam will be an in-class exam and must be taken at the scheduled time. Exceptions are allowed only with a Dean's permission, by University rules.

Honor System: It is expected that each student in this class will conduct himself or herself within the guidelines of the Honor Code. All academic work should be done with the level of honesty and integrity that this University demands.

Using computers at George Mason

Some Help With Matlab

Suggested Homework Problems (ungraded)
(1.1):1-6,9,10,19-22,23-26,38,39,40,42
(1.2):5,6,7,9-14,15-22,27-32,39-42,45,46,54,56
(1.3):1-6,9,10,13,17,28,30
(1.4):5,6,15,16,19,20,25,26,30,35
(1.5):5,7,8,9
(2.1):9,10,13,14,29,30,31,35,36,37-40,52,60,61
(2.2):1,3,5,7,9-12,19,20,27,28
(2.3):1-10,13,15-18,19-24,25-28,35,37,39,41,43,47,49,51
(2.4):1,2,3-6,11,12,15
(2.5):1,2,3,5,7,8,9,13,14
(2.6):1-4,5,6,13,14
(8.1):3,4,7,8,9,10,13,15,19,21,23,28
(8.2):1,2,3,4,7,8,9,11,13,15
(8.3):5,6,7,8,9,11,13,14,15,21,24
(11.1):10-14,17,19,23,27
(11.2):1,2,3,4,6,9,11,12,17
(11.3):
(11.4):
(11.5):

Graded Matlab Problems
HW1 (Due: October 20, 2009), [ Matlab Assignment 1]
HW2 (Due: November 17, 2009), [ Matlab Assignment 2]
HW3 (Due: TBA),
HW4 (Due: TBA),

[Instructions for using VCL]

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