“The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.” Richard Hamming%AssignmentDateMATH 248 COURSE GUIDELINES*“The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.” Richard HammingCOURSE: Math 248—Section 03--Computers and Numerical Algorithms--Spring 2009PREREQUISITE: Math 236-Calculus II (Taking 236 concurrently with 248 is not recommended.)TIME: 10:10-11:00 MW and 8:00-9:30 TTh (Miller G080)OVERVIEW: It goes without saying that we live in a digital age in which computers are ubiquitous; they controlbanking, optimize efficiency in automobile engines, assist pilots in flight control, pervade modern medical apparatusfrom MRIs to pacemakers, and manage the prodigious flow of information on the Internet and over the cellularairwaves. What happens when one of those programs has a “bug?” Have you ever stopped to think that lives andlivelihoods depend upon computer programs being absolutely correct and that college-educated people likeyourself write those programs upon which so much depends? Math 248 is a unique course, in which 1) you will learn a high-level programming language, Fortran 90, and 2) youwill use that language to write efficient and well-structured programs to perform a variety of computational tasks:finding the root(s) of a nonlinear equation, finding the solution of a linear system of equations, numericallyevaluating a definite integral, sorting, and determining and evaluating an interpolating polynomial. The relativeemphases on these two objectives will be approximately 1/3 to 2/3.The average “computer-literate” person remains unaware that computers can sometimes provide inaccurate orerroneous results, even when they are functioning perfectly. What separates Math 248 from the run of the millprogramming or numerical methods courses is that we will spend a good deal of effort learning the limitations ofcomputers by identifying sources of error and performing error analyses. When all is said and done, you will notonly be able to program and implement numerical algorithms, you will be able to argue that your answers are (well,almost) correct!INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Dave Pruett www.math.jmu.edu/~dpruettRoop 323 / 540-568-6227 [email protected] TEXT: Introduction to FORTRAN 90, 2/E, by Nyhoff and Leestma, Prentice Hall, 1999.(Optional but highly recommended) NUMERICS TEXT: Notes by Dave Pruett and Anthony Tongen, made available on-line via Blackboard.GRADING:(10 point lettergrade scale, withappropriate +/-)% Assignment Date35% 7-8 Programming assignments Roughly biweekly05% Attendance Daily05% Mini-independent study Student’s choice12% Test I February 1912% Test II April 712% Labs and HW Daily/weekly02% Completion of 4 knowledge surveys Throughout semester17% Comprehensive Final Exam Tuesday, May 5, 10:30-12:30OUTSIDE HELP: Instructor's office hours: as posted on Blackboard and by appointment. No appointment isnecessary during scheduled office hours. Outside those hours, the favor of an appointment is requested.MAKE-UPS: No make-up tests will be given. If a test is missed for a legitimate reason, the final exam will beweighted proportionately more heavily. Laboratory assignments cannot be made up and should rarely be missed. LATE POLICY: Programs will be due by 4:00 p.m. on the due date. Late programs will be assessed a penalty of10% per day for up to 5 days, after which they will no longer be accepted.CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: The prevalence of cell phones and MP3 players and the frequency of absenteeismand late arrivals in recent years are having an increasingly deleterious effect on the learning environment. On thefirst day of class, we will discuss (and modify if necessary) a classroom management policy to which students willbe held accountable in writing. (The instructor reserves the right to withdraw from the course any student whoselack of commitment to the educational process is evidenced by excessive absenteeism, tardiness, inattentiveness,or disruptiveness.)HONOR POLICY: JMU students are presumed to have the highest standards of integrity. To reinforce thosestandards, the JMU Honor Code will be strictly enforced. Regarding programs, students are free to discuss theconcepts involved in programming assignments, but the actual coding of an algorithm should be doneindependently and each individual's program should be unique. Functionally or logically identical programs areconsidered violations of the honor code to be prosecuted