Numerical Analysis (2018-19)

Instructor Name: Sivaji Ganesh and S Baskar

Course Type: Theory (Core)

No. of credits: 8

Course Code: MA214

Semester: Spring

Pre-requisites:

No formal prerequisites

Informal - MA105, MA106, MA108

Course Content:

• Error Analysis: Floating-point representation, propagation of errors, the stability of computation 
• Numerical Linear Algebra: Solving linear system, matrix factorization, locating eigenvalue of matrix, algebraic and iterative methods
• Nonlinear Equations: Closed and open domain iterative schemes to approximate solution of the nonlinear equation were discussed. This included bisection, secant, Newton-Raphson, and fixed-point methods, along with a discussion of the order of accuracy of some of these methods.
• Interpolation - Finding an interpolating polynomial given a set of data points and errors, and analysis of the accuracy of the various interpolation methods. Newton and Lagrange form of interpolation were covered.
• Numerical calculus: Various methods for numerically approximating integrals and derivatives were discussed, along with the errors for the same
• Numerical ordinary differential equations: Euler method and Runge-Kutta method to approximate solution of ordinary differential equations

Other topics covered:

Books:

The textbook Introduction to Numerical Analysis (written by Profs themselves) for this course is the only book to be followed. All concepts and questions (few exam questions too) are included in the book.

Lectures (attendance policy, slides/blackboard, quality, etc):

The lectures were quite easy to follow due to the simplicity of course content and new chapters were mostly based on new concepts. However, missing a few lectures might leave you a bit clueless in other lectures of the same chapter. Attendance policy was 80% and above, including both the tutorials and lectures. If your attendance is lesser than this you must give a viable reason (pink slip, a letter from Dean etc.) for missing each of your lectures else you'd get a straight DX.

Assignments/Tutorials (grading policy, difficulty level): Tutorials were not that interesting but extremely useful. Most of the concepts and techniques required become clear while solving Tutorial problems. Paying attention and noting down solutions in tutorials can amount to 50% of your preparation for exams. 

AP was given above 100 (yes, the course was for 110 marks)
Rest all grades were relative.

Exams and Grading (No. of quizzes considered, weightage etc): Most of the questions were from Tutorials and Questions behind the chapters in the textbook. It is difficult to attempt all the questions in the allotted time unless prepared well. 

Checking was strict and marks were allotted for every step.

Online material: None required for this Prof

Follow-up Courses: -

Pro-tips:  Do's - Definitely note down solutions in the tutorial. 

2. Due to step marking it's possible to score in questions you may have no clue about.

Personal Comments: Tutorials make all the difference in this course. Also a slow and thorough reading of the textbook will take you not more than 4 hrs per chapter but you'll understand almost everything. 

Respondent: Vedant Motamarri