Goals: Introduce
Text: Introduction to MATLAB for Scientists and Engineers, D. Etter Prentice-Hall
The three-legged stool of computational science links theory (traditional classroom), experimentation (science laboratory) and computational analysis (computer laboratory). This course introduces and develops the skills for the computer laboratory.
MATLAB provides a programming platform in a language closely related to C, as well as a graphics platform for displaying the results of computations. Modular programming problems will allow students to focus on individual tasks in the software development cycle. The tools provided by MATLAB to aid with the user interface are used extensively to provide a way to develop programs that will run on several computing platforms, from the Macintosh and IBM/PC to the Sun Sparc Workstation.
Problem solving skills will be developed through computational experiments. Writing skills will be enhanced through the student's written lab reports.
This course introduces the Xwindows computing platform, using the computer labs in BA 113. Several initial lectures will be held in BA 113 to facilitate student access and establish a strong sense of how to make effective use of the resources. BA 113 has been reserved for this course and office hours for the first five Wednesdays of Spring semester [Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25].
There will be two midterm and a final (totalling 40% of the grade) and four computational experiments with written laboratory reports (counting 60%) for the grade.