Modern Computational Math

• Complete the Introductory Survey, if you haven't done so already.
• Install Mathematica on your computer. If you've already installed Mathematica, open it up and check that your license key is still active. You might be prompted to upgrade to the most recent version. For assistance, see this IT Help Desk page.

• Read the Syllabus and complete the Syllabus Quiz on Moodle.
• Watch the video Hands-On Start to Mathematica by Wolfram.
• Read pages 1–12 of Experimental Mathematics. Come to class prepared to summarize Archimedes's method for computing \(\pi\).
• Complete the Intro Mathematica homework problems and submit your notebook to the Intro Mathematica assignment on Moodle.

• Read the following pages about the Wolfram Language: Fractions & Decimals, Variables & Functions, Lists, Iterators, and Assignments.
• Modify the code from class to complete the Archimedes's Method practice problems, and upload your solutions to the Archimedes's Method assignment on Moodle.
• Read pages 13–25 in our Experimental Mathematics text. Come to class prepared to explain what the text means by accuracy, efficiency, and representation.
• If you're curious why the sum of reciprocals of squares converges to \(\pi^2/6\) (on the Intro Mathematica practice problem), then watch this video.

Bonus video: Paths to Math: John Urschel

• Read the following pages about the Wolfram Language: Functions and Programs, Operations on Lists, and Assigning Names to Things
• Complete the Madhava series practice problems and upload your solutions to the Madahava Series assignment on Moodle.
• Read Section 1.4 (pages 29–33) in our Experimental Mathematics text. Come to class ready to discuss how sums arising from arctangent formulas can be used to compute digits of \(\pi\).

• Complete the Inverse Tangent Formulas practice problems and upload your solutions to the Inverse Tangent Formulas assignment on Moodle.
• Read Section 1.5 (pages 33–38) in our Experimental Mathematics text. Do Exercise 1.27 (not to turn in). How are the methods in this section different from what we have seen so far?
• Take a look at the \(\pi\) Project, due next Friday. You don't need to write any code for this yet, but start thinking about the problem and planning the methodology you will use for this project.

MSCS Colloquium: "When statistical modeling and machine learning collide: collider bias in genetic association studies" Monday, September 15, 3:30–4:30pm in RNS 210

• Complete the Iterative Methods for \(\pi\) practice problems and upload your solutions to the Iterative Methods assignment on Moodle.
• Begin work on the \(\pi\) Project (first draft due Friday). Look at the Sample Project Report to see an example of the sort of report you will turn in.
• Read Section 1.6 (pages 38–44) in our Experimental Mathematics text. Come to class prepared to discuss the "dart board" method for computing \(\pi\).

Bonus video: Eugenia Cheng on The Late Show

• Finish your \(\pi\) Project. Your first draft is due Friday (Moodle link). Remember that after the initial grading, you will have a chance to revise and resubmit for a higher grade.
• Optionally, read how Google computed 100 trillion digits of \(\pi\) or see the current record of 300 trillion digits.
• Optionally, work on the Dart Board \(\pi\) practice problems. These are due on Monday.
• Read the following pages about the Wolfram language: Ways to Apply Functions, Pure Anonymous Functions, and Tests and Conditionals
• Read Section 2.1 (pages 51–53) in our Experimental Mathematics text. Come to class ready to say what recursive means (in the context of a recursive sequence or a recursively-defined function).

• Finish the Dart Board \(\pi\) practice problems from Wedneseday and upload your solution to the Dart Board Pi assignment on Moodle.
• Watch The magic of Fibonacci numbers, a 6-minute TED talk by Arthur Benjamin.
• Read Section 2.2 (pages 51–60) in our Experimental Mathematics text.
• Recommended: Read Chapter 1, "Flourishing," in Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su, available here on JSTOR. (If necessary, log into JSTOR using your St. Olaf account.) By next Wednesday, you will answer two reflection questions (see below) based on this text about mathematics as a human activity.

• Read Chapter 1, "Flourishing," in Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su, available here on JSTOR. (If necessary, log into JSTOR using your St. Olaf account.) Then answer the following questions, writing at least one paragraph per question.
  1. Describe any virtues you have acquired as a result of doing mathematics. (Think of virtues as aspects of character that mathematics might build, such as habits of mind, that shape the way you approach life.)
  2. What value is there in studying math if you'll never use what the math that you're learning?
  The important thing is to be thoughtful about your answers. Submit your answers to the Flourishing assignment on Moodle.
• Read Section 2.3 up to the "Further Generalizations" heading on page 72 in our Experimental Mathematics text. Focus on the process of discovering Cassini's identity and the methods presented for verifying the identity for lots of indexes \(n\).
• Complete the Computing Fibonacci practice problems and upload your solutions to the Computing Fibonacci assignment on Moodle.
• Optionally, begin revising your \(\pi\) Project. Talk with the professor if you have questions about how to do this. Revisions are due Monday, September 29. You may submit your revisions to the same project link on Moodle.

Bonus video: Francis Su — Mathematics for Human Flourishing short version and long version

Learn about opportunities in math, stats, and computer science at the MSCS Showcase — Thursday, September 25, 4:30pm, Buntrock Commons Ballrooms

• Complete the Fibonacci Identities practice problems and upload your solutions to the Fibonacci Identities assignment on Moodle.
• Finish reading Section 2.3 (pages 63–76) in our Experimental Mathematics text.
• Optionally, work on revising your \(\pi\) Project. Talk with the professor if you have questions about how to do this. Revisions are due Monday, September 29. You may submit your revisions to the same project link on Moodle.

• Read Section 2.4 (pages 76–84) in our Experimental Mathematics text.
• Complete the Polynomial Identities practice problem and upload your solution to the Polynomial Identities assignment on Moodle. Come to class ready to discuss your observation about Fibonacci Polynomial identities.
• Optionally, finish revising your \(\pi\) Project. Talk with the professor if you have questions about how to do this. Revisions are due Monday, September 29. You may submit your revisions to the same project link on Moodle.

Northfield Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium (NUMS): Tuesday, September 30, 3:30–7:30pm in RNS 290

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• If there is a project from earlier in the semester that you have not turned in yet, you may still use a token to turn it in. Break could be a good time to work on that project.
• Optionally, work on a challenge problem.

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