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Department of Mathematical Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2009/10


MA50177: Methods and applications 2: scientific computing

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters
Click here for further information Period: Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 100%
Click here for further informationSupplementary Assessment: MA50177 Mandatory extra work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Description:
Aims & Learning Objectives:
To teach an understanding and appreciation of issues arising in the computational solution of challenging scientific and engineering problems. Students should be able to write code to solve efficiently a range of scientific problems. They should be able to analyse algorithm complexity and efficiency. They should be familiar with scientific libraries and parallel programming. They will be expected to have deep knowledge of at least one challenging application.

Content:
Units, complexity, analysis of algorithms, benchmarks. Floating point arithmetic. Programming in Fortran90: Makefiles, compiling, timing, profiling. Data structures, full and sparse matrices. Libraries: BLAS, LAPACK, NAG Library. Visualisation. Handling modules in other languages such as C, C++. Software on the Web: Netlib, GAMS. Parallel Computation: Vectorisation, SIMD, MIMD, MPI. Performance indicators. Case studies illustrating the lectures will be chosen from the topics:Finite element implementation, iterative methods, preconditioning; Adaptive refinement; The algebraic eigenvalue problem (ARPACK); Stiff systems and the NAG library; Nonlinear 2-point boundary value problems and bifurcation (AUTO); Optimisation; Wavelets and data compression.
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.