ACM11 Introduction to Matlab and Mathematica Fall 2009-10

Announcements

10/02/2009 To avoid the need for us to unlock the door for each student, the class location has been moved to Annenberg 105. We'll meet at the same time, 8-10pm on Thursdays. You will need to get a new id card from the card office to gain access to the building afterhours.
10/02/2009 The first lecture notes and the first homework have been posted. Turn the homework in via moodle by the start of the next class. Log in using your IMSS password, locate ACM11 and enroll. The enrollment key is gittens.
9/28/2009 At the organizational meeting, we decided that class will meet Thursdays from 8-10pm in Firestone 306. This means you will have to show up at the main entrance to Firestone by 8pm, since we will have to unlock the doors to let you in.
9/28/2009 An hour long organizational meeting will be held Tuesday September 29 in Firestone 306 at noon to determine when and where the course will meet. We will attempt to make a choice that works for the largest number of people, but the input of those in attendance will ultimately be the determining factor.

Handouts

Week 1: MATLAB Mon Sept. 28 to Sun Oct. 4	The m-file from the first lecture is available.
Week 2: MATLAB Mon Oct. 5 to Sun Oct. 11	The m-file from the second lecture is available. The referenced m-files are in the same directory.
Week 3: MATLAB Mon Oct. 12 to Sun Oct. 18	The m-file from the third lecture is available.
Week 4: MATLAB Mon Oct. 19 to Sun Oct. 25	The m-file from the fourth lecture is available.
Week 5: MATLAB Mon Oct. 26 to Sun Nov. 1	The m-file from the fifth lecture is available.
Week 6: Mathematica Mon Nov. 1 to Sun Nov. 8	The notebook from the sixth lecture is available
Week 7: Mathematica Mon Nov. 9 to Sun Nov. 15	The notebook from the seventh lecture is available
Week 8: Mathematica Mon Nov. 16 to Sun Nov. 22	The notebook from the eighth lecture is available.
Week 9: Mathematica Mon Nov. 23 to Sun Nov. 29
Week 10: Mathematica Mon Nov. 30 to Fri Dec. 4
Week 11: Study Period/Finals Week Sat Dec. 5 to Sun Dec. 11

Problem Sets

Directions for online submission Submit online assignments via moodle. Use your IMSS password to log in, navigate to ACM11, and enroll. The enrollment key is gittens.

Week 1: MATLAB Mon Sept. 28 to Sun Oct. 4	Assignment 1 is available
Week 2: MATLAB Mon Oct. 5 to Sun Oct. 11	Assignment 2 is available
Week 3: MATLAB Mon Oct. 12 to Sun Oct. 18	Assignment 3 is available
Week 4: MATLAB Mon Oct. 19 to Sun Oct. 25	Assignment 4 is available
Week 5: MATLAB Mon Oct. 26 to Sun Nov. 1	Assignment 5 is available
Week 6: Mathematica Mon Nov. 1 to Sun Nov. 8	Assignment 6 is available
Week 7: Mathematica Mon Nov. 9 to Sun Nov. 15	midterm Matlab projects due. Assignment 7 is available
Week 8: Mathematica Mon Nov. 16 to Sun Nov. 22	Assignment 8 is available
Week 9: Mathematica Mon Nov. 23 to Sun Nov. 29
Week 10: Mathematica Mon Nov. 30 to Fri Dec. 4
Week 11: Study Period/Finals Week Sat Dec. 5 to Sun Dec. 11	final Mathematica projects due

Contact

Instructor	Alex Gittens email: `gittens at acm.caltech.edu` office: 330 Annenberg office hours: Tuesdays 4pm-5pm
Teaching Assistant	Esther Wang email: `estherwang at gmail.com` office: SFL Group Study Room #2-2 office hours: Wednesdays 8pm-10pm

Course Policies

Download the course syllabus (PDF)

Grading Both the Matlab and Mathematica sections will each have 4 to 5 homeworks and one project. The two sections will have equal weight. The homeworks will be weighted equally, and each project will carry the weight of two homeworks. Students will be allowed to drop one homework for the entire class (not per section); the projects are not eligible to be dropped. Electing to drop a homework will prevent the student from receiving an "A+" letter grade. Letter grades may be based on a curve.

For students taking the course PASS/FAIL: the passing cutoff will be 70%. Grading will be done the same as for students taking the course for a letter grade.

Collaboration Students are allowed to discuss problems; however, particular homework problems should be discussed away from the computer. It is not acceptable for students to "split" a homework or homework problem. Copying of code is completely unacceptable.

Extensions In order to be fair to all students, there is a no-extension policy. However, as mentioned above, students are allowed to drop one homework per term (we will do this automatically).

Email policy The instructor and TA are happy to answer students' questions; this is why we hold office hours. However, we strongly discourage questions via email. Email responses take much longer and are less effective than personal interaction -- it is also harder to give the appropriate amount of assistance without revealing the solution. We will answer such emails at our discretion.

Important Dates

Week 1: MATLAB Mon Sept. 28 to Sun Oct. 4	Tuesday Sept 29, 12:00 PM Firestone 306, mandatory organizational meeting
Week 2: MATLAB Mon Oct. 5 to Sun Oct. 11
Week 3: MATLAB Mon Oct. 12 to Sun Oct. 18	Fri. Oct. 16 last day for adding courses
Week 4: MATLAB Mon Oct. 19 to Sun Oct. 25
Week 5: MATLAB Mon Oct. 26 to Sun Nov. 1
Week 6: Mathematica Mon Nov. 1 to Sun Nov. 8	midterm Matlab projects due
Week 7: Mathematica Mon Nov. 9 to Sun Nov. 15
Week 8: Mathematica Mon Nov. 16 to Sun Nov. 22	Wed. Nov. 18 last day for dropping courses
Week 9: Mathematica Mon Nov. 23 to Sun Nov. 29	No class Thursday or Friday (26 & 27); Thanksgiving holiday
Week 10: Mathematica Mon Nov. 30 to Fri Dec. 4	Fri. Dec. 4 is the last day of classes
Week 11: Study Period/Finals Week Sat Dec. 5 to Sun Dec. 11	No class; final Mathematica projects due