CSC336 Numerical Methods
announcements for current students and course outline
The first meeting of CSC336 is Thursday, September 10, 2026, 18:00-21:00, at BA 1170.
Please note that we start at 18:10.Aims
- Introduce numerical methods for solving linear and nonlinear equations, and approximation problems.
- Evaluate numerical methods with respect to their accuracy, time and memory complexity.
- Develop and practice computer skills in implementing numerical methods efficiently on the computer.
- Use high level software for studying numerical methods.
Topics
- Computer Arithmetic and Computational Errors
Representation of numbers, machine arithmetic, round-off error, error propagation, condition number of function, stability - Solving square linear systems of equations
Gauss elimination, LU factorisation, pivoting, scaling, forward and back substitution,
Vector and matrix norms, condition numbers for systems - Solving nonlinear equations
Bisection, secant, Fixed point iteration, Newton's method, Convergence, Newton's method for systems, Jacobian matrix - Interpolation
Polynomial interpolation, existence and uniqueness of polynomial interpolant, Piecewise polynomial interpolation, Spline interpolation
References
| General Numerical Analysis | ||
| Michael Heath | Scientific Computing: an introductory survey | SIAM 2018 or McGraw-Hill Inc. 2002+ |
| Cleve Moler | Numerical Computing with MATLAB | SIAM - Cambridge University Press |
| David Kahaner, Cleve Moler and Stephen Nash | Numerical Methods and Software | Prentice Hall 1989 |
| S. D. Conte and Carl de Boor | Elementary Numerical Analysis | McGraw-Hill Inc., or SIAM |
| David Kincaid and Ward Cheney | Numerical Analysis | Brooks/Cole 2002 (1996) |
| Richard L. Burden and J. Douglas Faires | Numerical Analysis | Brooks/Cole 2001 (1997) |
| James Epperson | An introduction to Numerical Methods and Analysis | Wiley 2003 |
| Numerical Linear Algebra | ||
| William W. Hager | Applied Numerical Linear Algebra | Prentice Hall 1988 |
Prerequisites
- General: Ability to handle notation and to do algebraic manipulation.
- Calculus: Differentiation and integration of polynomial, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic and rational functions, continuity, limits, graphs of functions, Taylor series, Rolle's theorem, mean-value theorem, de l' Hospital's rule.
- Linear Algebra: Matrix and vector addition and multiplication, elementary row operations, linear (in)dependence, inverse matrix, etc.
- Programming: knowledge of some programming language, such as MATLAB, python, C or FORTRAN.
- Other Mathematics: induction.
Schedule for Fall 2026
| Lectures | Thursday 6-9 PM | Room BA 1170 |
| Tutorial | Thursday 6-9 PM | Room BA 1170 |
| Office Hours | Wednesday 1:30-2:30 PM | Room BA4226 |
As the course proceeds, there will be more office hours, depending on due dates.
Tentative marking scheme for Fall 2026
| Problem set 1 | 12% |
| Problem set 2 | 12% |
| Problem set 3 | 12% |
| Term test 1 | 21% |
| Final exam | 43% |