The University of Iowa
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
FALL 2025
INTRODUCTION TO NUMERICAL METHODS: Analysis and Computation: MATH:3800, Section 0002
Cross-listed: CS:3700, Section 0002
Course meeting time and place: 11:30AM-12:20PM MWF, 218 MLH
Department of Mathematics
Course ICON site: To access the course site, log into
Iowa Courses Online (ICON)
using your Hawk ID and password.
Instructor:
- Laurent O. Jay
- Office location: 225L MLH
- Student drop-in hours: 2:30-3:20PM MWF.
I am also available by appointment if you are unable to attend my drop-in hours.
For students missing classes without a valid justification, drop-in hours
are not meant to be a private lesson to repeat what was covered in class.
- Phone: (319) 335-0898
- E-mail: laurent-jay@uiowa.edu
- DEO: Prof. Ryan Kinser, 14 MLH, E-mail: ryan-kinser@uiowa.edu
Prerequisites:
- MATH:1560 Engineering Math II: Multivariable Calculus OR MATH:1860 Calculus II
- MATH:2550 Engineering Math III: Matrix Algebra OR MATH:2700 Introduction to Linear Algebra
- Some computer programming experience, preferably MATLAB, will be helpful.
- Some knowledge of differential equations will also be helpful.
Description of course:
Topics to be covered:
- Chapter 1 - Computer representation of numbers
- Chapter 2 - Sources and analysis of errors
- Chapter 3 - Polynomials in one variable
- Chapter 4 - Linear interpolation in one variable
- Chapter 5 - Numerical integration in one variable
- Chapter 6 - Solution of systems of linear equations by direct methods
- Chapter 7 - Solution of systems of linear equations by iterative methods
- Chapter 8 - Nonlinear equations in one variable
- Chapter 9 - Optimization in one variable
- Chapter 10 - Scalar ordinary differential equations
This course plan may be modified during the semester. Such modifications
will be announced in advance during class periods and on
ICON;
the student is responsible for keeping abreast of such changes.
This is NOT a course on learning MATLAB or PYTHON!
This is a mathematically oriented course on the mathematics of numerical methods
(that may be used by MATLAB and PYTHON). If you are looking for a course to learn MATLAB
or PYTHON then you should take for example the course
ME:4111/CEE:4511 Scientific Computing & Machine Learning,
it used to be called Numerical Calculations.
Learning Objectives:
This course will cover some basic topics of numerical analysis
at an introductory level (see the course description above for the list of
topics to be covered). The main objective will be to have a clear
understanding of the ideas and techniques underlying the
numerical methods, results, and algorithms that will be presented,
where error analysis plays an important role.
You will then be able to use this knowledge to analyze the
numerical methods and algorithms that you will encounter, and also
to program them effectively on a computer. This knowledge will be
useful in your future to solve various problems numerically.
Class procedures:
The majority of each class period will be lecture oriented. It is
strongly advised to read the material to be discussed before coming
to class. Therefore, if there is a difficult point, you will know
beforehand where it arises, so that you can benefit from the lecture
more effectively. If a point remains unclear you can ask questions
in class. Readings may be assigned.
Standard out-of-class preparation is at least six hours per week.
Textbook/Materials:
- Book on Matlab:
Learning Matlab by Tobin A. Driscoll, SIAM, 2009, XIV + 97 pages,
ISBN-10: 0898716837, ISBN-13: 978-0898716832, list price: $39.50 (Softcover).
The book on amazon.com and on
bookfinder.com.
-
Course pack:
My class notes will be available as a course pack at the IMU bookstore for $18.75+tax
in August the week before the start of the semester.
Additional useful readings:
-
Explorations in Numerical Analysis Python Edition by
James V. Lambers, Amber Sumner Mooney, and Vivian A. Montiforte,
World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore, 2021, 674 pages,
ISBN-10: 9811227934, ISBN-13: 978-9811227936.
The book on amazon.com and on
bookfinder.com.
-
Numerical Analysis: Theory and Experiments by Brian Sutton,
SIAM-Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics, 2019,
431 pages, ISBN-10: 1611975697, ISBN-13: 978-1611975697.
The book on amazon.com.
-
Fundamentals of Numerical Computation by Tobin A. Driscoll, Richard J. Braun
SIAM-Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics, 2017,
559 pages, ISBN-10: 1611975077, ISBN-13: 978-1611975079,
list price: $104.00 (Hardcover).
The book on amazon.com.
-
Elementary numerical analysis by K.
Atkinson and W. Han, third edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2004,
Library reference: MATH QA297 .A83 2004.
The book on amazon.com.
-
Numerical Analysis, 10th edition by Richard L. Burden,
J. Douglas Faires, and Annette M. Burden ,
Cengage Learning; 2015, 896 pages, ISBN-10: 1305253663, ISBN-13: 978-1305253667
or
ISBN-13: 978-1305730663
(ebook, starting list price: $33.49).
Companion Website.
The book on amazon.com.
-
Numerical Analysis, 2nd edition by Timothy Sauer, Addison Wesley,
2012, 672 pages, ISBN-10: 0321783670 ISBN-13: 9780321783677.
Companion Website.
The book on amazon.com.
-
A First Course in Numerical Methods by
Uri M. Ascher and
Chen Greif,
xxii + 552 pages, Softcover, Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics (SIAM),
SIAM series on Computational Science and Engineering, Book 7, 2011,
ISBN-10: 0898719976, ISBN-13: 978-0898719970.
The book on amazon.com.
-
Numerical Methods: Design, Analysis,
and Computer Implementation of Algorithms
by Anne Greenbaum and Timothy P. Chartier, 464 pages, Hardcover, Princeton University Press, 2012,
ISBN-10: 0691151229, ISBN-13: 978-0691151229.
The book webpage.
The book on amazon.com.
- Numerical Analysis: Mathematics of Scientific Computing by
David R. Kincaid and E. Ward Cheney, Third Edition, 788 pp., Hardcover, The Sally Series, Pure and Applied Undergraduate Texts, Volume: 2,
American Mathematical Society, 2002, ISBN-10: 0821847880, ISBN-13: 978-0821847886.
Library reference: Engineering Library QA297 .K563 2009,
The book on amazon.com.
- Numerical Computing with MATLAB by
Cleve Moler,
himself!, the founder of Matlab, SIAM, Philadelphia, 2nd edition, 2008, (Engineering Library QA297 .M625 2004).
- Introduction to Scientific Computing:
A Matrix-Vector Approach Using MATLAB: second edition
by Charles F. Van Loan, Prentice Hall, NJ, 2000,
(MATH QA76.95 .V35 2000).
- An introduction to numerical analysis by K.
Atkinson, second edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989,
(MATH QA297 .A84 1989).
- Introduction to numerical analysis
by J. Stoer and R. Bulirsch, second edition, Springer-Verlag,
Texts in Applied mathematics, New York, 1993,
(MATH QA297 .S8213 1993).
- Numerical computation 1 & 2. Methods, Software, and Analysis
by C. W. Ueberhuber, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1997.
-
Numerical Mathematics
by A. Quarteroni, R. Sacco, & F. Saleri,
Springer, Texts in applied mathematics, New York, 37.
ISBN-10: 3642071015, ISBN-13: 978-3642071010, list price: $89.95. Library reference: MATH QA297 .Q836 2000.
The book on amazon.com.
Electronic version.
Academic Honesty and Misconduct:
All students in CLAS courses are expected to abide by the
CLAS Code of Academic Honesty.
Undergraduate academic misconduct must be reported by instructors to CLAS according to
these procedures.
Graduate academic misconduct must be reported to the Graduate College
according to Section F of the
Graduate College Manual.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies:
Solutions to homework and examinations generated by AI tools are not allowed.
Student Collaboration on homework:
The homework for this course is designed to help you master your knowledge
related to the topics covered during lecture. As such, you may discuss on the
homework problems with others or use online resources. However, please be
aware that to master the skills needed for this class, practice is
required and that to do well on the examinations you will need to work many
of these problems multiple times without help. Be sure to test your
knowledge by doing much of the homework on your own.
Students are allowed to partially collaborate with others on homework
through discussion for the most difficult problems. However, each student must turn
in their own homework and it must not be a copy of someone else homework.
Students are responsible for understanding this policy; if you have questions,
ask for clarification. Word per word copies will not be tolerated. In extreme cases
students may be requested to stop any kind of collaboration with other students.
Student Complaints:
Students with a complaint about a grade or a related matter should first discuss
the situation with the instructor and/or the course supervisor (if applicable),
and finally with the DEO (Chair) of the department, school or program offering the course.
Sometimes students will be referred to the department or program's
Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) or Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
Undergraduate students should contact
CLAS Undergraduate Programs for support when the matter is not resolved at the previous level. Graduate students should contact the
CLAS Graduate Affairs Manager
when additional support is needed.
Drop Deadline for this Course:
You may drop an individual course before the drop deadline; after this deadline you
will need collegiate approval. You can look up the drop deadline for this course
here.
When you drop a course, a "W" will appear on your transcript.
The mark of "W" is a neutral mark that does not affect your GPA.
To discuss how dropping (or staying in) a course might affect your academic goals,
please contact your Academic Advisor. Directions for adding or dropping a course
and other registration changes can be found on the
Registrar's website.
Undergraduate students can find policies on dropping CLAS courses
here.
Graduate students should adhere to the
academic deadlines and policies set by the Graduate College.
UI Email:
Students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to their UI email address (uiowa.edu)
and must use this address for any communication with instructors or staff in the UI community.
For the privacy and the protection of student records, UI faculty and staff can only correspond
with UI email addresses.
Grading System and the Use of +/-:
In assigning grades, the plus/minus grading system will be used.
The A+ grade will be used only in extraordinary situations.
Final grades will be awarded based on the following ranges:
A+ |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
F |
100 % to 96.15 % |
< 96.15 % to 88.46 % |
< 88.46 % to 80.77 % |
< 80.77 % to 73.08 % |
< 73.08 % to 65.38 % |
< 65.38 % to 57.69 % |
< 57.69 % to 50.0 % |
< 50.0 % to 42.31 % |
< 42.31 % to 34.62 % |
< 34.62 % to 26.92 % |
< 26.92 % to 19.23 % |
< 19.23 % to 11.54 % |
< 11.54 % to 0.0 % |
Course Grades:
The final grade will be based as follows:
- There will be 2 tests during the semester,
with each test to account for 22.5% of the course grade.
- Midterm Exam 1: Wednesday October 15: 6:30-8:30PM in room 101 BCSB.
- Midterm Exam 2: Wednesday November 19: 6:30-8:30PM in room 101 BCSB.
- Homework assignments and quizzes will account for 15% of the course grade. Late
homework will be accepted only by special permission of the instructor.
Your worst 2 homework scores will not be counted.
For example if we have 12 homeworks, we will count only your best 10 homework scores
out of 12 homeworks. Only a portion of each homework assignment may be graded, based
on the availability of assistance from a grader for the course.
- The final examination will account for 40% of the course grade and
it will be comprehensive.
The 2 tests and final examination are open books and open notes examinations.
There will be NO question related to MATLAB or PYTHON in the tests.
Smartphones/computers are not allowed.
Bring a simple scientific calculator, graphing calculators are fine.
Homework:
Will be assigned approximately weekly.
Presentation of your results is very important.
Scratch paper will not be accepted.
Do not expect good grades if your solution to a problem
is poorly communicated. Like for everything, if you cannot
explain something in great details, you certainly have not
fully understood it. The importance of doing homework cannot
be overemphasized, most of human people learn by doing, not
only by watching and/or listening. Late homework may not be
accepted, you need to request permission first or to provide a
reasonable justification. Late homework is not accepted once
a correction is given. Use of symbolic mathematical software
to solve problems is not allowed.
Computer languages:
The predominant programming languages used in numerical analysis are Matlab and
Fortran. They are available on the Linux network in MLH (see below).
Alternatives to Matlab are Octave and Scilab.
For programming assignments, no other language will be accepted, except Python.
Linux computer accounts:
Linux computer accounts are available on the Linux network in MLH
(computer lab rooms B5).
To access your Linux computer account remotely.
you can use FastX, a graphical Linux virtual desktop environment
remotely accessible in your web browser.
As long as you have an active Hawk ID and you login at least once in the past year,
your CLAS Linux account will remain active. If you fail to use your account in a year,
you will receive three notices, and then your CLAS Linux account will be deleted.
Also, once your Hawk ID becomes inactive, your CLAS Linux account will be deleted.
Date and Time of the Final Exam:
The final examination date and time will be announced by the Registrar generally by the fifth week of classes and it will be announced on the course ICON site once it is known.
Do not plan your end of the semester travel plans until the final exam schedule is made public. It is your responsibility to know the date, time, and place of the final exam. According to Registrar's final exam policy, students have a maximum of two weeks after the announced final exam schedule to request a change if an exam conflict exists or if a student has more than two exams in one day (see the policy here).
Where to Get Help:
Possibly the Math Tutorial Lab.
More details will be given after a few weeks of classes.
Grader:
???,
office: ??? MH, mailbox is in 15 MLH (MacLean Hall),
e-mail: ???@uiowa.edu.
Course's College (Administrative Home)
-
For undergraduate courses:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the home of this course, and CLAS governs the add and drop deadlines, academic misconduct policies, and other undergraduate policies and procedures. Other UI colleges may have different policies.
-
For graduate courses:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the home of this course, and CLAS governs the policies and procedures for its courses. Graduate students, however, must adhere to the
academic deadlines set by the Graduate College.
University Policies
-
Free Speech and Expression:
The University of Iowa supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principles of
academic and artistic freedom. We are committed to open inquiry, vigorous debate, and creative expression inside
and outside of the classroom. Visit the
Free Speech at Iowa website for more information on the university's
policies on free speech and academic freedom.
- Non-discrimination Statement:
The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the
basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual
orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences. The university also affirms its commitment to
providing equal opportunities and equal access to university facilities. For additional information on
nondiscrimination policies, contact the Senior Director, Office of Civil Rights Compliance,
the University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1316, 319-335-0705,
ui-ocrc@uiowa.edu .
Although not required, students have the option to share their pronouns and chosen/preferred names in class and through
MyUI.
Instructors and advisors can find information about a student's chosen/preferred name in MyUI.
-
Absences for Religious Holy Days:
The university is prepared to make reasonable accommodations for students whose religious holy days coincide with their classroom assignments, test schedules, and classroom attendance expectations. Students must notify their instructors
in writing of any such religious holy day conflicts or absences within the first few days of the semester or session,
and no later than the third week of the semester. If the conflict or absence will occur within the first three weeks of the semester, the student should notify the instructor as soon as possible.
See Policy Manual 8.2 Absences for Religious Holy Days
for additional information.
-
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
The University is committed to providing an educational experience that is accessible to all students.
If a student has a diagnosed disability or other disabling condition that may impact the student's ability to
complete the course requirements as stated in the syllabus, the student may seek accommodations through
Student Disability Services (SDS).
SDS is responsible for making
Letters of Accommodation (LOA)
available to the student. The student
must provide an LOA to the instructor as early in the semester as possible, but requests not made
at least two weeks prior to the scheduled activity for which an accommodation is sought may not
be accommodated. The LOA will specify what reasonable course accommodations the student is eligible
for and those the instructor should provide. Additional information can be found on the
SDS website.
-
All University Course Policies and Resources for Students::
https://provost.uiowa.edu/student-course-policies