Math 252, Spring 2016
SYLLABUS
Instructor: Eli Goldwyn
Office Location: MECC 265
Office Hours: click “HOME” link above
Email: eli.goldwyn@trincoll.edu (please include “MATH 252” in the subject line!!!)
Class Meeting Time: MW 2:40-3:55 Room: MECC 260
Textbooks:
- Mathematical Methods in Biology by J. David Logan and William R. Wolesensky (amazon link)
Course Description: Application of elementary mathematics through first-year calculus to the construction and analysis of mathematical models. Applications will be selected from the natural sciences and social sciences, with an emphasis on the natural sciences. Several models will be analyzed in detail, and the computer will be used as necessary. The analysis will consider the basic steps in mathematical modeling: recognition of the non-mathematical problem, construction of the mathematical model, solution of the resulting mathematical problems, and analysis and application of the results
Grading:
- Attendance/Participation 5%
- Homework (written and computational) 30%
- Exam (Wednesday 3/30) 15%
- Projects (rough draft due: 4/20, final due: 5/2) 20%
- Final Exam (cumulative) (schedule) 30%
Homework (due every Wednesday unless otherwise specified):
- Homework is due weekly(ish) and will be graded on both the mathematical content and on the exposition, where appropriate (the correct answer may not be enough). Homework will include written and computational (Matlab) problems. I encourage you to work together, but you must submit your own work. These problems will be posted on the course website and will turned in before class each Wednesday. If your HW is multiple pages, staple pages together. If you use spiral notebook paper, remove fringes (you will lose points if you fail to do this — I know it’s annoying but otherwise grading the HW becomes impossible)!
- Note: While all HW can be done open book/notes/internet and with classmates, if you need any of those resources to complete a problem, then you don’t really understand it. Be sure to practice some problems without any assistance- as if they are exam problems.
Exams: There will be one regular exam and a cumulative final exam. Make up exams are given only in the case of a serious medical problem or emergency documented by the Dean of Students office. Written documentation any such situation will be required. Advanced notice must be given if possible.
- Exam Regrade Policy – If you think your exam was misgraded (I mis-added your points, I marked you wrong when your answer was correct, or you think you deserve more partial credit), you can return your exam to me with a letter (less than 1 page – can be handwritten neatly or printed out and signed in pen) describing why you deserve more points. You have one week from after I return the exams to submit this letter to me. Be sure to make this letter convincing. Note: you can only do this one time per exam, so make sure you go through your entire exam BEFORE completing the above process.
Projects: There will be one projects. I will provide a short list of topics for the project (you are more than welcome to come up with your own ideas, though you need to clear it with me first). In general you will modify (or create) and describe an existing model and analyze its behavior. The projects will require a first draft (worth 20%) and a final draft.
Specific Classroom Rules:
- You are expected to arrive for class on time and prepared, having completed any required reading and/or homework.
- Cell phone use is for emergencies only! You can wait until after class to play. Please make sure the ringer is off!
Study Hints:
- Come to class (and ask questions if you don’t understand).
- Read the book BEFORE class.
- Help each other (explaining a concept is a great way to understand it).
- Attend my office hours and/or TA sessions, and visit the Q-center.
- Review your class notes (I recommend doing this the same day).
- Practice some HW or examples w/o friends or the book
- Be patient! It’s okay if you don’t understand a concept the first time you see it.
- VOX.com tips for “studying smarter”
- The rule of thumb is that for every hour of class, you should spend ~3 hours outside of class.
You are responsible for your own learning. As your instructor, I view my role as providing you with contexts and opportunities that facilitate the learning process. Please call on me to help you with this learning in whatever ways I can.
- Click here for a cool TEDx video (“Being a fantastic educator: a lesson from my niece”) about teaching that generally sums up my teaching philosophy (by coincidence the speaker is my college roommate’s younger brother).
Applications
- Foraging Theory
- Heat Transfer
- Population Dynamics
- Stage/Age Structured Population Dynamics
- Interacting Population Dynamics
- Birth/Death Processes
- Disease Outbreaks
Mathematical Topics
- Differential Equations
- Difference Equations
- Taylor Series
- Non-dimensionalization
- Regression and Curve Fitting
- Matrices and eigenvectors/eigenvalues
- Phase-plane (null-cline) analysis
- Random Numbers and Random Walks
Students with Academic Accommodations: Trinity College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you have a documented disability and require academic accommodations, please present your accommodations letter during my office hours within the first two weeks of the semester. If you do not have a letter, but have questions about applying for academic accommodations, please contact Lori Clapis, Coordinator of Accommodation Resources, at 860-297-4025 orLori.Clapis@trincoll.edu.
Academic Honesty: Academic integrity is an important component of intellectual life and I treat cases of academic dishonesty very seriously. You are expected to uphold the principles in the Student Integrity Contract, to read and abide by the College policies on intellectual honesty in the Student Handbook, and to abide by any specific policies I establish. You will receive these policies in writing. If you have any questions you should bring them to me; when in doubt err on the side of caution and avoid even the appearance of academic dishonesty. The minimum penalty for academic dishonesty is a 0 on the given assignment. All cases of academic dishonesty will be referred to the Academic Honor Council.