How would you simulate the sound of a violin? The stretching of a rubber band? The flight of a paper airplane? The flickering of a flame? The formation of a galaxy? Forecast the weather? The traffic on a highway? The spread of a rumor? Recognize a face? Animate a face?

Digital systems are routinely used to model natural systems for purposes ranging from recognizing realities, to experimenting with possibilities, to realizing fantasies. This course will survey the useful levels of description for such mathematical modeling, including analytical, numerical, and data-driven techniques. The focus will be on understanding how the methods relate, and on how they can be implemented efficiently.

The topics to be covered are:

	Contents
	(Linear Algebra)
2/7:	Introduction, Mathematical Software, Parallel Programming, Benchmarking
	Ordinary Differential and Difference Equations
2/14:	Random Systems
	(Partial Differential Equations)
2/21:	Monday classes held
	(Variational Principles)
2/28:	Finite Differences: Ordinary Differential Equations
3/7:	Finite Differences: Partial Differential Equations
3/14:	Finite Elements
3/21:	Cellular Automata and Lattice Gases
3/28:	Spring Vacation
	(Computational Geometry)
4/4:	Function Fitting
4/11:	Search
4/18:	Patriots Day
	(Density Estimation)
4/25:	Transforms
5/2:	Filtering and State Estimation
	(Linear and Nonlinear Time Series)
5/9:	Function Architectures
	(Control Theory)
5/16:	Constrained Optimization
	(Convex Optimization)
5/23:	Final Projects
	Bibliography
	Programs

Relevant background for each of these areas will be covered, with introductory experience in linear algebra, calculus, and programming assumed. The assignments will include problem sets, programming tasks, and a semester modeling project. The course is based on the text The Nature of Mathematical Modeling, with revisions for a second edition to be provided throughout the semester.

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