Course detail
Numerical Methods
FSI-2NU Acad. year: 2025/2026 Summer semester
Students will be made familiar with a basic collection of numerical methods. They will make sense of errors in mathematical modelling, learn to find zeros of nonlinear equation and to solve systems of linear equations. They will master the basics of approximation including the least squares method, manage to use quadrature formulas and obtain an initial insight into the unconstrained minimization.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
4
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Numerical linear algebra, approximation of functions, numerical differentiation and integration, differential and integral calculus, basic Matlab programming.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
COURSE-UNIT CREDIT IS AWARDED ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: Active participation in seminars. Students have to pass two check tests successfully and to work out semester assignment solved by means of MATLAB. A student can receive up to 20 points for both tests and up to 10 points for a semester assignment, in total up to 30 points. A necessary condition for course credit acquirement is a gain of at least 15 points, including at least 10 points in both check tests.
FORM OF THE EXAMINATIONS: The exam has a practical and a theoretical part. In the practical part students solve several numerical examples by hand using a scientific calculator. In the theoretical part they answer several questions to basic notions in order to check up how they understand the subject. Students will obtain 0--100 points as a result of the exam.
FINAL COURSE CLASSIFICATION: A (excellent): 100--90, B (very good): 89--80, C (good): 79--70, D (satisfactory): 69--60, E (sufficient): 59--50, F (failed): 49--0.
Attendance at seminars is checked. Lessons are planned according to the week schedules. Absence may be replaced by the agreement with the teacher.
Aims
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with essential methods applied for solving numerical problems and provide them with an ability to solve such problems individually by hand and especially on computer. Students ought to realize that only the knowledge of substantial features of particular numerical methods enables them to choose a suitable method and an appropriate software product.
Students will be made familiar with a basic collection of numerical methods. They will make sense of errors in mathematical modelling, learn to find zeros of nonlinear equation and to solve systems of linear equations. They will master the basics of approximation including the least squares method, manage to use quadrature formulas and obtain an initial insight into the unconstrained minimization.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme B-FIN-P: Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology, Bachelor's, compulsory
Programme B-MET-P: Mechatronics, Bachelor's, compulsory
Programme B-KSI-P: Mechanical Engineering Design, Bachelor's, compulsory-optional
Programme B-ZSI-P: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's
specialization STI: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
13 hours, optionally
Syllabus
Two-hour lessons take place every other week.
Week 1-2. Introduction to computing: Error analysis. Computer arithmetic. Conditioning of problems, stability of algorithms.
Solving linear systems: Gaussian elimination. LU decomposition. Pivoting.
Week 3-4. Solving linear systems: Effect of roundoff errors. Conditioning. Iterative methods (Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel, SOR method).
Week 5-6. Interpolation: Lagrange, Newton and Hermite interpolation polynomial. Piecewise linear and piecewise cubic Hermite interpolation. Cubic interpolating spline. Least squares method.
Week 7-8. Numerical differentiation: Basic formulas. Richardson extrapolation.
Numerical integration: Basic quadrature rules (midpoint, trapezoidal and Simpson's rule). Gaussian quadrature. Composite quadrature. Adaptive quadrature.
Week 9-10. Solving nonlinear equations in one dimension: bisection method, Newton's method, secant method, false position method, inverse quadratic interpolation, fixed point iteration.
Solving nonlinear systems: Newton's method, fixed point iteration.
Week 11-12. Minimization of a function of one variable: golden ratio, quadratic interpolation.
Minimization methods for multivariable functions: Nelder-Mead method, steepest descent and Newton's method.
Week 13. Teacher's reserve.
Computer-assisted exercise
26 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
Seminars are organized in biweekly cycles, alternatively in a classical classroom and in a computer lab. The seminar schedule corresponds to the subject of the corresponding lecture.