Mathematica in Math 241

The use of the mathematical software package Mathematica will be an important feature of the course. We will use Mathematica as an aid in: understanding vectors; carrying out the analytic operations of multi-variable calculus; graphing curves and surfaces; estimating the values of functions that express geometric quantities; and making qualitative deductions about the nature and features of geometric shapes. You will use Mathematica outside of class (in WAM Labs, on your personal comnputer, or elsewhere) to solve problems in the green book. You will also use Mathematica in class at your desk during the one period per week when we are in the ATT Teaching Theatre.

IMPORTANT Policy on Student Collaboration
AITS Peer Training Classes
Software Versions
Teaching Assistant Hours
Computer Lab Locations and Hours

Policy on Mathematica Homework Collaboration

You are strongly encouraged to form small teams to collaborate in preparing the solutions to the Mathematica problems from the green book. No team may contain more than three members. Teams may contain two members. Teams may vary during the semester; that is, if you wish to change the composition of any team, you may do so at any time--of course, while maintaining the limit of three. No other collaboration is permitted. If individuals or teams collaborate without acknowledgement, penalties will be assessed.

You may submit your solutions in one of two ways: (i) the team works together and submits one Notebook with all team members listed on the cover; or (ii) each team member submits his own write-up, but collaboration is acknowledged by listing the other team members on the cover. I prefer the former, since it makes grading more efficient and reveals the teams more clearly. However, if the individualist inside you demands your own Notebook, that is permissible.

You may form your teams as you wish. If you are a loner, or don't know anyone in class, I will be willing to assign students to teams. Experience has shown that students who work in teams: adjust to Mathematica's syntax quicker, spend less time in seemingly hopeless dead-ends, and actually learn more. Participation on a team is not mandatory--but it is strongly suggested.

NOTE: This policy commences with Problem Set B. Everyone is expected to do Problem Set A on their own.

NOTE: Beginning with the second assignment you may turn in ALL of your homework, that is the Mathematica problems from the green book as well as the assigned problems from Ellis and Gulick--regardless as to whether you do the latter by hand or with Mathematica--in the team format. BUT, you should note that team homework should be a true collaborative effort. Experience shows that if one individual does all the work, then what the other members of the team miss invariably shows up (more precisely fails to show up) on succeeding exams.

AITS Peer Training Classes

Introductory peer training classes in Mathematica are organized by AITS and offered at the beginning of each semester. The class is strongly recommended for students who are unfamiliar with Mathematica. The cost for the class is $10.

All classes are held in the Faculty Technology Center, Room 4404, Space Sciences Building (new wing). Students may register in advance in Room 1400, Space Sciences Building (new wing), between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday-Friday. Registration is possible at the class, but seating is limited to 30 students and preference is given to those who preregister.

The class schedule for Spring 1998 is:

Thursday	January 29	6:00-9:00 PM
Sunday	February 1	1:00-4:00 PM
Tuesday	February 3	6:00-9:00 PM
Wednesday	February 4	6:00-9:00 PM
Sunday	February 8	1:00-4:00 PM
Tuesday	February 10	6:00-9:00 PM

A follow-up intermediate peer training class in Mathematica will be offered in early March. Watch for announcements.

Versions of Mathematica

There are two supplementary textbooks for the fall. We will be distributing free copies of the "blue book", Introduction to Mathematica, 2nd. ed., which is a brief primer for Mathematica Version 3.0. Students also need to purchase the "green book", Multivariable Calculus and Mathematica, with Applications to Geometry and Physics, at the University Book Center. This is the main supplement, and it is written primarily for Mathematica Version 3.0, but in such a way that virtually all of it should be usable in Version 2.2.

The versions of software that are available on campus are:

Location	Versions
WAM PC	2.2 and 3.0
WAM Mac	2.2 and 3.0
WAM UNIX	3.0
MATH OWL (PC)	2.2
MATH UNIX	3.0
Student Edition	3.0

Notes

The PCs in the ATT Teaching Theatre run Version 3.0.
The PCsin the WAM Labs that are running Windows NT as the operating system are also running Version 3.0 of Mathematica. These are found in PG2. Some machines may be available later in the semester in Hornbake and CSS. PCs running Windows 3.1 as the operating system will have Version 2.2.
All of the WAM Macs have Version 3.0 loaded. However, some of the Macs do not have math coprocessors, and will run extremely slowly. The fastest Macs can be found in the CSS and Centreville Labs.
Students with GLUE accounts can also use GLUE machines; these are configured identically to the WAM machines.
The MATH OWL (located in MATH 0203) only has 20 seats. The machines there are all PCs, configured similarly to the WAM PCs running Windows 3.1. Therefore, only Version 2.2 is available.
It is possible to get Version 2.2 on the UNIX platforms. On WAM, you must "tap mathematica2" and then follow the instructions.
The category "MATH UNIX" refers to the SUN workstations in faculty offices. It is also possible to get Version 2.2 on these machines, by typing "mathematica2.2" at a command prompt.
A student edition of the software is available through the University Book Center; this is Version 3.0.
You do not need a computer account or password to use the PCs or Macintosh machines. However, regardless of the platform you use, you will need to set up an account to pay for printing charges. There are two steps to setting up this account: first, go to CSS Room 1400 with a valid student ID and obtain a Printing Authorization Number; then go to the South Campus Dining Hall and open a Terrapin Express Account with a minimum deposit of $25. The charge for printing is ten cents per page.
Almost (but not) all of the problems in the green book can be solved using Version 2.2.

Teaching Assistant Hours

A teaching assistant will be assigned to this course, and will hold tutoring hours either in one of the WAM labs or in the Math Department OWL. Locations and times will be posted here as soon as they become official. Click here for the latest information.

Computer Lab Locations and Hours

The official list of WAM and OWL locations and hours is maintained on INFORM. It is located at http://www.inform.umd.edu/CompRes/Docs/.where2go/where2go.2.html