Course Syllabus

Instructor

Prof Jeremy L Thompson (he/they)

jeremy.thompson@colorado.edu

Overview

This course covers development, computer implementation, and analysis of numerical methods for applied mathematical problems. It explores topics such as floating point arithmetic, root finding, numerical solution of linear systems of equations, numerical interpolation, differentiation, and integration.

Resources

• Fundamentals of Numerical Computation Julia Edition by Tobin A. Driscoll and Richard J. Braun

• Fundamentals of Numerical Computation (Matlab, Julia, and Python) by Tobin A. Driscoll and Richard J. Braun

• 2023 Course Website

Zulip

The course Zulip server is the best location to ask questions and receive timely replies from myself and students in the course. Please join the course Zulip server as soon as is convenient. You may use a pseudonym but must use your CU email address when signing up for the Zulip server.

Course Outcomes

• Understand the fundamentals of numerical algorithms to solve continuous problems, especially in the context of science and engineering problems

• Develop code to implement numerical algorithms

• Measure the accuracy and performance of these numerical algorithms

• Recognize and explain conditions that degrade performance or accuracy of numerical algorithms

• Anticipate and explain challenges and performance to scaling numerical algorithms to larger problems

• Evaluate open source packages and communities related to numerical algorithms

Ungrading

This course will use ‘ungrading’. You will keep a learning journal with SMART goals. You will regularly update this journal with notes about your progress towards these goals. You can update, close, or add goals throughout the semester but should have at least 3 goals at all times. Learning is non-monotonic, so it is perfectly normal to encounter difficulties or struggles. The important thing is to reflect on how you work through those difficulties or struggles.

Individual assignments and quizzes are intended to provide formative feedback. As such, you will receive a mixture of automated and written feedback but no numerical grade. This feedback should be used in your journal notes about your progress towards your goals.

There will be no final exam in this course. The final project will be in two phases - first an individual portion and second a group portion. This project allow you to explore the course content in the context of professional open source software projects and establish connections between the course content and practical applications.

At the end of the semester we will have a 1-on-1 meeting to discuss your final course grade. You will propose a grade and we will your goals and progress towards these goals.

Deadlines and Extensions

None of the assignments in the course are graded, so missing an assignment means missing an opportunity for receiving feedback and understanding your progress towards your course goals. Submitting assignments by the course deadlines help the course staff deliver written feedback promptly. If something comes up and you need an extension on an assessment, please let me know as soon as feasible via email at jeremy.thompson@colorado.edu.

Honor Code

All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code may include but are not limited to: plagiarism (including use of paper writing services or technology [such as essay bots]), cheating, fabrication, lying, bribery, threat, unauthorized access to academic materials, clicker fraud, submitting the same or similar work in more than one course without permission from all course instructors involved, and aiding academic dishonesty. Understanding the course’s syllabus is a vital part of adhering to the Honor Code.

All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution: StudentConduct@colorado.edu. Students found responsible for violating the Honor Code will be assigned resolution outcomes from Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution and will be subject to academic sanctions from the faculty member. Visit Honor Code for more information on the academic integrity policy.

Accommodation for Disabilities, Temporary Medical Conditions, and Medical Isolation

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit your accommodation letter from Disability Services to your faculty member in a timely manner so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities in the academic environment. Information on requesting accommodations is located on the Disability Services website. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or DSinfo@colorado.edu for further assistance. If you have a temporary medical condition, see Temporary Medical Conditions on the Disability Services website.

If you have a temporary illness, injury or required medical isolation for which you require adjustment, please let me know as soon as feasible about any accommodations via email at jeremy.thompson@colorado.edu.

Accommodation for Religious Obligations

Campus policy requires faculty to provide reasonable accommodations for students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments, or required attendance. Please communicate the need for a religious accommodation in a timely manner. In this class, please let me know as soon as feasible about any accommodations needed via email at jeremy.thompson@colorado.edu. See the campus policy regarding religious observances for full details.

Preferred Student Names and Pronouns

CU Boulder recognizes that students’ legal information does not always align with how they identify. If you wish to have your preferred name (rather than your legal name) and/or your preferred pronouns appear on your instructors’ class rosters and in Canvas, visit the Registrar’s website for instructions on how to change your personal information in university systems.

Classroom Behavior

Students and faculty are responsible for maintaining an appropriate learning environment in all instructional settings, whether in person, remote, or online. Failure to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, or political philosophy.

Additional classroom behavior information

• Student Classroom and Course-Related Behavior Policy

• Student Code of Conduct

• Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and academically excellent community.

The college’s diversity and inclusion plan dovetails with the CU Boulder Inclusion, Diversity and Excellence in Academics (IDEA) Plan and is informed by the university’s longstanding efforts to create a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging and where everyone can succeed. As a university and college community we affirm that making excellence inclusive is an active, intentional process that engages students, faculty and staff across the curriculum and community and in our offices, labs and meeting spaces. Moreover, our plan addresses the Chancellor’s three strategic imperatives: shape tomorrow’s leaders, innovate and positively impact humanity.

As laid out in the Dean’s Strategic Vision, we aim to be the premier destination for every engineering student in the state of Colorado while attracting outstanding students from across the country and world by increasing and supporting communities traditionally underrepresented in engineering and applied sciences to thrive in our college. In doing so, we will drive and support economic growth in Colorado, foster collaborative industry partnerships that prepare students to work in diverse teams and succeed in the global marketplace and to produce ethical, resilient and creative engineers who will become leaders in their fields.

Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, Harassment and/or Related Retaliation

CU Boulder is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming learning, working, and living environment. University policy prohibits protected-class discrimination and harassment, sexual misconduct (harassment, exploitation, and assault), intimate partner abuse (dating or domestic violence), stalking, and related retaliation by or against members of our community on- and off-campus. The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) addresses these concerns, and individuals who have been subjected to misconduct can contact OIEC at 303-492-2127 or email OIEC@colorado.edu. Information about university policies, reporting options, and OIEC support resources including confidential services can be found on the OIEC website.

Please know that faculty and graduate instructors are required to inform OIEC when they are made aware of incidents related to these concerns regardless of when or where something occurred. This is to ensure the person impacted receives outreach from OIEC about resolution options and support resources. To learn more about reporting and support a variety of concerns, visit the Don’t Ignore It page.

Mental Health and Wellness

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to the well-being of all students. If you are struggling with personal stressors, mental health or substance use concerns that are impacting academic or daily life, please contact Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), located in C4C, or call (303) 492-2277, 24/7.

Free and unlimited telehealth is also available through AcademicLiveCare. The AcademicLiveCare site also provides information about additional wellness services on campus that are available to students.

Acceptable Use of AI in This Class

While not explicitly forbidden, it is discouraged to use generative AI or LLM tools in this course. If you use generative AI or LLM tools on any assignment, you must provide clear attribution and explanation of the AI or LLM tools role in the completion of the assignment.