University of California, Davis
Department of Chemical Engineering and
Materials Science
ECM 6: Computational Methods
(CRN# 42932)
Spring Quarter 2008
MTWR (10-10:50 PM)
Room 216 Wellman
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| Instructors: |
Brian G. Higgins |
| Office : |
Bainer 3012 |
| Office Hours: |
M&Th 12:30-2:00 PM
Room 1116 Academic Surge
F 11-12 Noon
Bainer 3012 |
| Computer Lab |
M&Th 11:00-2:00 PM
Room 1116 Academic Surge
(get UserID/pwd from Prof. Higgins) |
| Phone: |
752-8780 |
| e-mail: |
bghiggins@ucdavis.edu |
Course Overview
The following Concepts & Skills will be emphasized in ECM6
CONCEPTS
- Syntax of a programming language
- Algorithms.
- Control structure and program design
- Data structures
- Iteration and Recursion
- Solution of algebraic and differential equations
- Visualization of data - graphics programming
SKILLS
- Proficiency in using Mathematica
- Programming concepts and programming styles.
- Implementing numerical methods in software.
- Importing and exporting data
- Writing packages
- Applying numerical methods to chemical/biochemical engineering problems
The text for the course is : An Introduction to
Programming with Mathematica, P. Wellin, R. Gaylord S. Kamin (ISBN: 0521 84678 1)
You will also need to have access to the software package Mathematica 5.2. This can be purchased from Wolfram Research or the UCD bookstore.
There is a special discount price for students. See Wolfram research for purchase options.
Computer Lab
Student will be required to use Mathematica do do their homework. Mathematica 5.2 is installed on the Department computer lab
in Bainer 2129B. See lab web site for additional information. The class also has reserve blocks of time in the computer lab in Academic Surge, Rm 1116. The lab time assigned is MW: 9-2 pm, F: 9-12 Noon.
Every student in the class will be assigned a username/password to access the lab computers in Rm 1116 during Spring quarter.
Course Grade
The overall letter grade for the course will be determined as follows:
Class Exam #1 30% , Final Exam 45%, and homework 25%. Grades will not be assigned on the basis of a curve. The approximate, absolute scale is given by
| A: 70 - 100% | | B: 55 - 69% |
| C: 40 - 54% | | D: 25 - 39% |
| F: 0 - 24% |
The exams will be held on:
In-Class Exam #1: Tuesday May 6 (10-10:50 am), Final Exam : Tuesday June 10 (8:00- 10:00pm)
Homework & Exams Policies:
All homework must be turned in before the beginning of the class. Your homework MUST be prepared in the form of a Mathematica notebook using the ArticleClassic Style sheet.
A template for your homework can be downloaded Homework Template. A printed copy of your notebook should be presented with correct pagination
and stapled together. Mathematica code with the output should be displayed. You may be required if asked to submit a electronic version of your notebook if the TA needs
to verify that the output matches the code. Homework that is not stapled will not be graded. Late homework will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made.
Some homework assignments are longer than others, and it is your responsibility to allot the appropriate amount of time for each assignment.
Answers to all homework problems and the grading key for all exams will be available from this site as PDF or Mathematica Notebook files.
When doing the homework, you should remember the words of Confucius:
"I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand."
In class, you hear and see. When you study the text, you see. When you do the homework by yourself, you do. Don't waste 2500 years of wisdom.
- Rules: If an emergency occurs and you need special attention, contact Professor Higgins as soon as possible.
All exams will be closed book and closed notes, and questions will be neither asked nor answered.
All personal belongings must be stored under your chair during exams. Cell phones are not allowed in the exam room.
Monitors may confiscate any and all material to which you have access during exams.
No make-up exams will be given, and students who miss an exam for justifiable reasons will be assigned an
appropriate grade on the basis of their scores in the other exams. Students will be required to bring an unmarked Legal Blue Exam book to the exam.
- Re-grading: If, after having read the grading key, you
believe that your exam should be re-graded, you should prepare a written statement
indicating why the exam should be re-graded, staple your written statement to your exam,
and deliver your statement and exam to Professor Higgins. No exams or homework will be accepted
for re-grading one week after the exams or homework have been returned.
- Integrity: Perhaps the most productive learning atmosphere occurs when you ask a question1,
thus you are encouraged to ask questions in class and while studying with other students.
Questions and answers help to clarify concepts, and you are encouraged to share concepts and
ideas concerning homework problems. However, the work that you submit for a grade in this
course must be your own, i.e., you must be the master of the material to which you have
affixed your signature. Evidence of any violations of the UCD Code of Academic Conduct
will be sent directly to Student Judicial Affairs. If you are unsure of what is meant
by plagiarism, cheating, academic dishonesty, etc., see the UCD Code of Academic Conduct.
A brief explanation is given in the Schedule & Directory under the title of Integrity
and details are available here
Classroom Behavior
The classroom will be a place of orderly discussion of computational methods and Mathematica.
If you wish to discuss personal matters with your neighbor, you must do so elsewhere.
Special Needs
If you have a disability that impacts on your learning, we encourage you to talk with Prof. Higgins about it on a confidential basis so that we might collectively devise a strategy to overcome whatever barriers might exist.
Class Assistants
The TAs assigned for this course are XXXXXX and XXXXXX. They can be reached by email: Office hours will be held in the Academic Surge Computer Lab ( Rm 1116 ).
References
- R.P. Feynman, "There is no learning without having to pose a question", The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, MA