Math 170B (Introduction to Numerical Analysis: Approximation and Nonlinear Equations)

Course Topics: Introduction to Numerical Analysis: Approximation and Nonlinear Equations
Instructor: Prof. Michael Holst (5161 AP&M, mholst@ucsd.edu; Regular Office Hours: TBA)
Term: Winter 2022
Lecture: 2:00p-2:50p MWF (See Canvas for Room, Zoom Links, other info)
TA: See the Canvas Page
Discussion: See the Canvas Page

Main Class webpage: http://ccom.ucsd.edu/~mholst/teaching/ucsd/170b_w22/index.html

Canvas/Zoom:
    In 2021-2022 the course 170ABC will be based around the use of Canvas, which will be the place to find all materials for the course, information about lectures and office hours, including Zoom links, as well as any recorded lectures or materials that might be provided as part of the course. Note that this means that this webpage I created on my UCSD website for the course will not be updated after the first day of class; please use your Canvas account for the class going forward.

    Also note that there are two different sections of 170B in Winter 2022 taught by two different instructors. Although 170ABC is not a "coordinated" course like some of the lower division courses, the two sections of 170B in Winter 2022 will use the same book, cover roughly the same material, go at roughly the same pace, and have the same general types of assessments throughout the quarter. Therefore, the student experience in each section of 170B should be fairly similar.
Textbook(s):
    In order to use the best available resources for the course, we will be using different books for each of the three quarters of 170ABC. For 170B in Winter 2022, we will be using the following book:

  • Numerical Analysis: Mathematics of Scientific Computing.
    D. Kincaid and W. Cheney
    Third Edition, American Mathematical Society, Providence, Rhode Island, 2009.

    The book is available through the UCSD library system by clicking [ here ]. The entire book can be viewed online for free by UCSD faculty and students by clicking on the "view online" link in the page above, or by clicking [ here ]. You will need to access the link from UCSD, or through a UCSD VPN, and then the link will give you access to the entire book.

    NOTE: There is a limit to how many pages you are allowed download as a PDF file due to the UCSD online license with the publisher, and that will not be enough for you to download the entire book. (There seems to be no way around this limitation.) That just means you will need to read the book mostly online through a web browser, if you want to take advantage of this free access. The browser access seems to work very well, so I recommend this option. (The entire book is of course available for purchase from the first link above both as a single electronic PDF file, or as a physical copy; the free online access provided through UCSD will work fine for the course.)
Printable Syllabus: A printable version of this webpage can be found [ here ].


CATALOG DESCRIPTION: 170B. INTRODUCTION TO NUMERICAL ANALYSIS: APPROXIMATION AND NONLINEAR EQUATIONS (4)
Rounding and discretization errors. Calculation of roots of polynomials and nonlinear equations. Interpolation. Approximation of functions. Knowledge of programming recommended. Prerequisites: Math 170A. Students who have not completed the listed prerequisites may enroll with consent of instructor.


COURSE INFORMATION: Many of the advances of modern science have been made possible only through the sophisticated use of computer modeling. The mathematical foundation of the computer modeling techniques now used in all areas of mathematics, engineering, and science is known as numerical analysis. The Math 170ABC series at UCSD provides an introduction to the exciting field of numerical analysis, which is also sometimes referred to as computational mathematics or scientific computing. Professor Holst has a passion for this particular area of mathematics, and much of his published research is in this area. Math 170B deals primarily with the development and analysis of algorithms (or, numerical methods) for solving nonlinear equations and systems of nonlinear equations, and approximating functions, approximating derivatives of functions, and approximating integrals of functions.


OTHER COURSE INFORMATION: Please see the Canvas page for other information about this course.