Lecture 0.1: Outline

Lecture 0.1: Mechanics, course structure, introduction to modeling

course web page: assignments and references in postscript, outlines of lectures, master schedule, useful links, etc.
precept: in MECA lab
goal of course: learn numerical computing through applications
5 assignments: biology, economics, chemistry, physics, computer science; basic parts + extra credit; may assign discussants, count on participating!
term project: proposal (oral and written) at midterm and report (oral and written) during reading period
grading: assignments, class discussion, term project, 5-minute quizzes
optional text: Numerical Recipes in C [PTVF92]. This is really a reference, and may be useful later in life. It's available in postscript on web -- but I want you to write relatively short C programs from scratch. I will also suggest other readings as we go.
reference list, reserve books:

programming prerequisites: COS 126 is entirely adequate, don't get fancy, don't try to make programs bullet-proof; we're after the algorithmic and numerical issues; we'll review in an early precept
math prerequisites: MAT 104 is entirely adequate, if you learn some topics we'll cover along the way; just remember what a derivative and an integral are, we'll motivate any more advanced math intuitively

philosophy of modeling: painting vs. photography
quantitative vs. qualitative
reasons: quantitative prediction, qualititative prediction, development of intuition, theory formation, theory testing
independent and dependent variables, space, time
discrete vs. continuous choices for time, space, dependent variables