Math 36 – Mathematical and Computational Methods for the Life Sciences

COURSE INFORMATON - Fall, 2005

Useful Coordinates: Office: Millikan 221, Tel: x18715, email: aradunskaya@pomona.edu, web page: http://pages.pomona.edu/~aer04747

Time: MWF 10 AM, Millikan 208

Exam dates and info: There will be two in-class midterms. These are closed-book, closed neighbor exams, but you may bring one page of hand-written notes (both sides).

Midterm I – October 12

Midterm II – December 2

There will also be a three-hour, in-class comprehensive final: Tuesday, December 13, 9AM, in Millikan 208. Please be sure you can be at this exam: it is not possible to make it up, or to take it at another time.

Homework is due Monday at the beginning of class, and Thursday by 5PM in the Math 36 homework box in the math office. No late homework will be accepted, but I will drop the two lowest scores.

Grading: Grades will be assigned according to the following distribution:

Homeworks - 22%

Midterms: 25% each

Class participation - 3%

Final 25%

Letter grades correspond to the following percentages:

95% = A, 90-94% = A-,

88-89% = B+, 83-87% = B, 80-82% = B-,

78-79% = C+, 73-77% = C, 70-72% = C-,

65-69% = D, 60-64% = D-

The class participation grade is based primarily on the willingness to participate, as well as the ability to participate in discussions and questions. [Note: a necessary condition for participation is your wakeful presence in the classroom.]

While study groups are strongly encouraged, you must know how to do all of the problems on your own. Therefore, you should write up the homework solutions independently, and you should give credit to all collaborations. Homework must be neat, legible, and use complete sentences.

Text: ``Mathematical Methods in Biology” by E. Allman and J. Rhodes (2004). The sections in the course schedule refer to sections in this book. We will cover the entire book, except for sections 5.2-5.6.

Where to get help: We will have mentor sessions twice a week with our class mentor, Julie Siloti (Julie.siloti@pomona.edu). These sessions are intended to help you get ``unstuck” on homework problems, and to allow you to ask questions on any of the course material. You are STRONGLY encouraged to attend these sessions, if only to get together with other students in the class to discuss the problems and to work together.

Mentor Sessions: Tentatively set for Sunday and Wednesday, 7PM-9PM.

Office hours are tentatively set to be (but they will probably change!): Monday, 9AM, Wednesday, 9AM, and Thursday, 2-4:00. You can also make an appointment to see me at other times, either by phone or by email. Email is also a good way to ask questions.