Math 142: Mathematical Modeling
MWF 2:00pm, MS 5127
Instructor
Scott McCalla
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Office: 7340 Math Sciences Building
Office Hours: W 1:00-2:00pm, R 1:00-3:00pm
Email: smccalla _ AT _ ucla _ DOT _ edu
Phone: 1-310-825-5626
Teaching Assistant (office hours)
- Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisites: courses 32B, 33B. Introduction to fundamental principles and spirit of applied mathematics. Emphasis on manner in which mathematical models are constructed for physical problems. Illustrations from many fields of endeavor, such as the physical sciences, biology, economics, and traffic dynamics.
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Syllabus
Exams
- Midterm Exam: 30 April 2012, in class
- Final Exam: 12 June 2012, 11:30am-2:30pm
Homework
Homework 1, due April 6
34.4, 34.5, 34.14, 34.17
Homework 2, due April 13
35.3 (a, b, c), 37.2, 37.5, 38.3, 38.5, 39.1, 39.4
Homework 3, due April 20
44.3, 45.1 (a, c, l, n, o), 46.1, 46.4, 47.1, 49.1, 50.1
Homework 4, due April 30
50.2, 50.3, 50.4, 50.5, 50.7, 54.4, 54.5, 54.11,
TW1. Show that the profile shape f of a traveling wave solution u(x,t) = f(x-ct) of the equation utt = uxx-sin(u) must satisfy the differential equation (1-c2)f ''(z) = sin(f(z)) where z = x-ct.
Homework 5, due May 11
57.2, 57.6, 59.3, 60.1, 60.2, 61.3, 63.7
Homework 6, due May 18
65.1, 66.1, 67.3, 67.5, 68.1, 69.1, 70.2, 71.5, 71.6
Homework 7, due May 25
74.2, 77.1, 77.2, 78.2, 78.3, 78.6, 79.3, 80.1
Homework 8, due June 1
72.5, 73.1, 73.2, 73.5, 73.6, 73.9, 74.3, 74.4, 78.10
Homework 9, due June 8
82.1, 82.2, 82.3, 82.11
Announcements
- Welcome to MS 142!
- There will be several office hour changes for the rest of the quarter. Gabe's office hours have been changed to Tuesday 3:30-5:30. My Monday office hours will be moved to Thursday from 1:00-3:00 for the rest of the quarter.
- You should be able to see your homework and exam grades on my.ucla.edu. If you cannot, please email me. Homework will be returned in class.
- Another textbook on modeling biological systems is available for free on campus: Mathematical Models in Biology.
- A useful tool for drawing phase planes and trajectories can be found here.
- Another reference on conservation laws and traffic flow is by Roger Knobel: An introduction to the mathematical theory of waves, American Mathematical Society.
- If you wish to request an accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible at A255 Murphy Hall, (310) 825-1501, (310) 206-6083 (telephone device for the deaf). Website: www.osd.ucla.edu.
