MATH 2300: mathematical modeling

Instructor: Theodore Kolokolnikov, Chase building 304, tkolokol@mathstat.dal.ca, http://www.mathstat.dal.ca/~tkolokol; Phone: 494-6295.
Office hours: right after class or drop by anytime I'm in my office. You can also email me to set up an appointment.

Handouts

Other Evaluation: Homework, about once every two weeks; a midterm and a final exam. The final mark will be computed by maximizing the formula
final grade = w1*homework + w2*midterm + w3*final
subject to constraints 0.15 ≤ w1 ≤ 0.3, 0.1 ≤ w2 ≤ 0.25, 0.5 ≤ w3 ≤ 0.8 with w1+w2+w3=1.
In other words, the final is worth at least 50% and at most 80%; homework is worth at least 15% and most 30%, and the midterm is worth at least 10% and at most 25%; Moreover the lowest-grade homework will be dropped.

Programming: We will be using MATLAB throughout the course. You can download it from the Dalhousie website for free (you will need your NetID). While this is not a course on computer programming per se, no prior programming knowledge is assumed; I will teach you the basic steps as required.

Course outline: Dynamical systems, basic probability, queing theory, selected topics.

References: The textbook for this course is "A Course in Mathematical Modeling" by Mooney and Swift. Some of the material will be outside the textbook in which case appropriate references will be provided.

Grade conversion scale scale: [0-50) F, [50-55) D, [55-58) C-, [58-62) C, [62-65) C+, [65,70) B-, [70-75) B, [75-80) B+, [80-85) A-, [85-90) A, [90-100] A+.

Intellectual Honesty and Plagiarism: If you cheat, you will get into lots of trouble. Suspected cases of cheating will be referred to the Faculty Academic Integrity Officer. Punishments can include a suspension from university for a year! It is not worth it. For details, please read the section on academic honesty in the student calendar.

Advising and Access Services Center: Students may request accommodation as a result of barriers related to disability, religious obligation, or any characteristic under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. Students who require academic accommodation for either classroom participation or the writing of tests and exams should make their request to the Advising and Access Services Center (AASC) prior to or at the outset of the regular academic year. Please visit www.dal.ca/access for more information and to obtain the Request for Accommodation – Form A.