12569 - Computational Mathematics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows varied techniques and tools at the basis of the computational solution of problems from scientific calculus. She/He is able to solve applicative problems, from interdisciplinary study or didactic areas, in an integrated, symbolic and numeric, software environment.

Course contents

Introduction to the Mathematica environment: Kernel, FrontEnd, notebook.

Introduction to programming within Mathematica.

Graphics and visualization tools.

Employing the system capabilites to analize and solve a particular applied problem, of didactical interest to the student, via a package development.

Readings/Bibliography

The material developed in class is made available to students enrolled in the course, through the VIRTUALE platform. Any other material/text, on Mathematica resources of Numerical and Symbolic Calculus, is obviously also useful, particularly for specific in-depth studies related to the exam project; the following (not compulsory) books are recommended because (besides being excellent texts) they are available at the UniBo Libraries.

Mathematica: A Problem-Centered Approach (2nd ed.), Roozbeh Hazrat, 2nd ed., Springer, London, UK, 2015

An Introduction to Programming with Mathematica (3rd ed), R.J.Gaylord, S.N.Kamin, P.R.Wellin, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2005

Programming in Mathematica (3rd ed), R. Maeder, Addison -Wesley, Reading, Mass., USA, 1997

Front-end vision and multi-scale image analysis : multi-scale computer vision theory and applications, written in Mathematica, B. M. Ter Haar Romeny, Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 2003

Modern differential geometry of curves and surfaces with Mathematica (3rd ed), A.Gray, E. Abbena, S. Salamon, Chapman & Hall, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, 2006

Further Readings:

Wolfram U: open courses for students and professionals, www.wolfram.com/wolfram-u/

WRI Documentation Center, reference.wolfram.com/language/

WRI How To Topics, reference.wolfram.com/language/guide/HowToTopics.html

Mathematica Resources, www.wolfram.com/mathematica/resources/

Teaching methods

1. Class lectures (obviously, complying with COVID-19 indications and the like)
2. Exercises in class and home assignments
3. Seminars

Note. Lessons take place in a computer lab/room and attendance in presence is strongly recommended. UniBO reminds the students that, as far as their safety is concerned, they are equated with workers and, as such, they must be trained on safety procedures in the study areas. Attendance to this course then requires the preliminary participation to Modules 1 and 2 on "Safety Training", which can be taken via e-learning at https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it/

Assessment methods

Each student will be assigned a laboratory project, which they will choose according to their study interest and in agreement with the teacher, and defined within April of the academic year in which the course is held and attended; a viva-voce will follow, which may also consist in answering questions on the course subjects.

The time taken by the project discussion may vary; generally, it takes at least an hour, but it might take longer.

Teaching tools

1. Laboratory activities in Mathematica (obviously, complying with COVID-19 indications and the like)
2. Course notes and material to study and exercise available at the VIRTUALE platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it) and text books available at the departmental libraries.

Office hours

See the website of Giulia Spaletta