Dynamical Systems MATH 374 (Swords 302) Spring 2014

     

Professor Gareth Roberts

Office: Haberlin 305
Phone: 508-793-2350
Office hours: Mon. 2 - 4, Tues. 9:30 - 10:30, Wed. 1 - 2, Thurs. 9:30 - 10:30 or by appointment
(See my teaching schedule for other available times.)

Important Information

• Syllabus (pdf file)
• Calendar (pdf file)
• Texts: A First Course in Chaotic Dynamical Systems by Robert L. Devaney     and
  Chaos: Making a New Science (20th-anniversary edition) by James Gleick
• Departmental Statement on Academic Integrity (PDF File)
• College Academic Honesty Policy (PDF File)

Special Lecture

• Internationally known mathematician Joseph Silverman will be giving this year's Sulski lecture on:
  
                  Thurs., March 20, 4:30 - 5:30 pm, Smith Labs 154
  
  Click here for the abstract.

  We are very fortunate to have such an internationally recognized expert here at HC.
  Plan on attending this lecture!

Homework (due at the start of class)

• Assignment 1 (due Thurs., Jan. 30)
• Assignment 2 (due Thurs., Feb. 6)
• Assignment 3 (due Thurs., Feb. 20)
• Assignment 4 (due Fri., March 14, 5:00 pm) (PDF file)
• Assignment 5 (due Fri., March 28, 5:00 pm)     Partial Solutions (PDF file)
• Assignment 6 (due Fri., April 4, 5:00 pm)

Class Handouts

• The Quadratic Map Q_c is Topologically Conjugate to the Shift Map σ

Computer Projects

• Rates of Convergence (due Fri., Feb. 14, 5:00 pm)
• Windows in the Orbit Diagram (due Fri., March 14, 5:00 pm)
• Computing Feigenbaum's Constant (due Tues., March 25, 11:00 am)
• Introduction to Maple Handout

Exams

• Exam 1: Thurs., Feb. 27, In Class
• Exam 2: Thurs., April 10, In Class

Final Project (pdf file)     Schedule

Useful and Fun Links

• Java Applets on Choas and Fractals (BU Dynamical Systems and Technology Project)
• The Butterfly Effect
• Movie Clip: The Butterfly Effect in Jurassic Park
• HD Mandelbrot Zoom: Bach, Fractals, and The Art of Fugue (YouTube video)
• Wolfram|Alpha (Computational Knowledge Engine)
• MathSciNet basic subject search
• Web Links for Mathematics/Mathematicians History
• The Greek Alphabet (learn how to say and write the symbols frequently found in mathematics literature)
• Holy Cross Math/CS Club

Note: Any items in PDF format can be read through Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this program, or have an earlier version, you can download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader at no cost.

Math/CS Homepage               Prof. Roberts' Homepage