Math 230, Winter 1999
Mathematica assignment 4

Paper Assignment

Do problems 1 and 4 on page 179-180 (Problem Set F) of the Mathematica supplement.  
Turn these in by Friday April 14 (the date of the second exam).       I'll also pass 
out a PPLANE5 "workout" assignment in class.   Your group should also turn in its
collective solutions for that on the 14th.

Group Presentation

Your group should also pick one of problems 5 through 15 from Problem Set F (not 
including 6, which is solved in the back of the book), to work out and present to the 
class.  I want each group to do a different problem, so I want you to notify me of your 
choice.  I'll assign problems to groups on a first come first serve basis.  Guidelines 
for presentations are as follows:

1.  The overall goal of your presentation is to provide a convincing analysis of the system 
specified in your problem.  The analysis should include any conclusions the problem asks 
you to draw, but you are encouraged to go beyond what the book asks for.  If your system 
of ODE's models a physical situation, then explain where the system comes from.  If
the system has adjustable parameters, then explore the way in which the behavior of 
solutions changes (or does not change) as the parameters vary.  The sky's the limit.
On the other hand you can omit more routine parts of your problem and otherwise 
diverge from the workbook if it seems to help your presentation.   The point is to 
demonstrate amply that you've played around with and thought hard about your 
problem and to communicate and justify your conclusions as well as possible.
Use Mathemtica, PPLANE5, the blackboard---whatever works best.
    
2.  Presentations should be at least 10 minutes but no more than 30 minutes, so there
is time for questions and comments afterward.  I will schedule all presentations for the last 
two weeks of class.  Specific times will (like the problems themselves) be assigned on a 
first come, first serve basis.   
    
3.  You should give me a hardcopy of your presentation when you finish along with some
info about who did what.  I generally intend to give everyone in a group the
same grade, but if I suspect that someone's been carrying way more or less than
his/her fair share of the burden, I might deviate from that intention.


4.  I won't assign grades immediately, because I'll want to see all the presentations before I pass 
judgments.  I'll also take into account how well the members of your group participate
in the presentations of other groups---i.e. do you ask questions, make comments, etc.
If you're shy or have comments that are more suitable for me than for the class (i.e "this group 
should get a Nobel prize"  or "this group should have been drug-tested" ), you can write 
them down and give them to me.  
    
5.   I'd like to meet with you and your group at least once before your presentation.   You
can use the opportunity in any way you like.  You can show me what you hope to present,
and I'll give you my own suggestions.  Of course, you're welcome to see me more than
once.  You might arrange a first meeting once you've tried the problem enough to
figure out where you're confused and a second one once you pretty much have your
presentation together.