73312 - Introduction To Numerical Methods

Learning outcomes

A successful learner from this course will be able to: a) deal with numerical analysis topics such as: accuracy, truncation and round-off errors, condition numbers, convergence, stability, curve-fitting, interpolation, numerical differentiation and integration, numerical linear algebra; b) deal with numerical methods for solving ordinary and partial differential equations, with finite difference and finite element methods for parabolic and elliptic partial differential equations, applications of computer programs to case studies derived from civil engineering practice.

Course contents

• The course will cover fundamental topics in numerical computation, including in particular:

- Computer arithmetic;

- Solving nonlinear equations;

- Solving systems of linear and nonlinear equations;

- Least squares approximation and data filling;

- Polynomial and spline interpolation.

• Throughout the course, lectures will be supported by computer laboratory sessions, during which the Matlab software will be used for experimenting with numerical phenomena and solving practical problems.

Readings/Bibliography

Learning material, including slides, exercises and quizzes will be provided throughout the course and will be made available for download to all students enrolled in the course.

Further optional reading:

- U. Ascher, C. Greif, A first course in Numerical Methods, SIAM, 2011.

- A. Quarteroni, R. Sacco and F. Saleri, "Numerical Mathematics, Second Ed.", Springer, 2007.

- M.T. Heath, "Scientific Computing. An introductory survey", McGraw-Hill, 1997.

Teaching methods

The course involves theoretical lectures and practical work based on computational software such as Matlab.

Quizzes and solved exercises will be provided as supplementary material.

Constant attendance at lectures and computer laboratory sessions is paramount in order to learn the contents of the course.

Considering the type of activity and the teaching methods adopted, the attendance of this training activity requires the prior participation of all students in training modules 1 and 2 on safety in the study places in e-learning mode https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it/?lang=en

Assessment methods

Final examination consists in a written exam including exercises with Matlab and multiple choice questions. The multiple choice part lasts 16 minutes and the Matlab part 1 hour.

During the exam it is forbidden to consult textbooks, handouts or notes.

Sample tests will be provided to help students assess their level of learning.

 

 

Teaching tools

Lectures, lecture slides, quizzes, computer lab activities and exercises with Matlab.

Office hours

See the website of Carolina Vittoria Beccari

See the website of Davide Palitta