Syllabus

A list of topics covered in the course is available in the calendar.

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Prerequisites

6.003, 6.013 or 8.07.

Requirements

The course will have 10 Problem Sets, 2 Quizzes, and Final Exam.

Grading Policy

The grade will be decided based on the results of two quizzes and final exam. The homework will or will not count towards the final grade, depending on the option you choose at the beginning of classes. The table below gives the emphasis that will be given to homework, quizzes, and the final exam in determining the final grade. Note that once you have chosen one of these two options, you will not be allowed to change your mind afterward.

Homework Policies

The class will have 10 problem sets which will be distributed during the lecture. Normally the solutions are due in the following week. If for some reason you cannot hand in the solution on time, please contact the teaching assistant before the solution is due. Solutions to the problems will usually be distributed at the next recitation.

As explained above, you will have a "no homework" option, in which case you will not have to solve problem sets. Note however that not doing homework is a bad idea because the homework is necessary to understand the material properly and also prepares you for the quizzes and the final.

Collaboration on problem sets is encouraged. However, you must write your own solutions to the problems rather then copying solutions from somebody else. Please cite all people with whom you have collaborated.

The problem set on which you get the lowest grade will not be counted towards the final grade. Only the top 9 graded problem sets out of the 10 problem sets you have to submit will count towards your final grade.

The grades for homework will depend not only on the correctness of the final result, but also on the ideas used in solution. If the idea is correct but there was some mathematical error during solution you still have a good chance of getting a good grade. It is a good idea to check the final result for physical consistency; if your answer is obviously wrong your grade will be low even if the initial ideas were correct.

The solution must have adequate explanations which demonstrate your approach towards the solution. This does not mean that you need to explain each equation you are writing. Doing so will provide us valuable feedback on your understanding of the concepts. Solutions without adequate explanations will be graded lower.

If you solve problems numerically, please always submit the code together with the results.

Quizzes and Final Exam

The class will have two quizzes and the final exam. The quizzes will be 1.5 hours long, the final exam will be 3 hours long. The problems in the quizzes and final exam are of the similar type than your homework.

Quizzes and final exam will be closed book, i.e. no books, class notes, or other materials are allowed. However, you may take one double-sided page of notes to the first quiz, two pages to the second, and three to the final exam. Using calculators is allowed. Cooperation of any kind is not permitted.

Calendar