Math 340 - 202, Term 2 2011
Introduction to Linear Programming
Announcements
Announcements will be posted from time to time. Please check
regularly.
- Please don't forget leave your homework on the front blue desk to
be collected at the start
of class (by 11.05am). Thank you to all of you who did this.
- Well done on the great midterm average of 76%! Keep up the hard
work until the final!
- 15 March: Office hours cancelled Thursday 4pm due to meeting.
Please email
me if needs be, thanks.
- 5 April: Office hours moved to end of class for your convenience.
Lecture details
Lecturer: S. van Willigenburg,
Math 208, 822-2630, steph at math splotch ubc splotch ca
Location: TuTh 11.00-12.30 BUCH B213
Web page: http://www.math.ubc.ca/~steph/340/340.html
Office hours: Mon 10-11am, Thur 4-5pm, 15 mins just after class, and by
appointment (not
Wednesday). You can also email me anytime.
Course description
This is an introduction to linear programming. There will be emphasis
both on proof and
algorithmic
techniques. We will cover linear programming
problems, dual problems, the simplex method, solution of primal and
dual
problems, sensitivity analysis and, if time permits, game theory.
Prerequisites are one of Math 152, Math 221, Math 223.
Text
Vasek Chvatal, Linear Programming, WH Freeman and Company,
ISBN-10 0716715872, ISBN-13 978-0716715870 (both paperback).
Other
books on the subject can also
be found in the library (start browsing around QA 265 or T 57).
Homework
There will be weekly homework
assignments due on Thursdays at the start of class. The homework is
the most important
part
of the course. Most of your learning will take place while doing it. We
will not accept late homework except in very unusual circumstances.
We will, however, drop the lowest homework grade.
Exams
Midterm,
Tuesday 7th February.
Final exam,
Thursday 12th April.
Calculators, books, notes etc are not permitted in either exam.
Please
bring your student ID to both exams.
Please note that there are no make-up or alternate exams, so make
sure
you do not make travel plans, work plans etc that will conflict. Valid
documentation must be provided if any consideration is to be
taken for a missed midterm.
Grading
Your grade will be based on the homework (10%), the midterm (30 or
40%),
and the final (60 or 50%), whichever gives you the best grade.
Since this is a Mathematics Majors course, there is a
median
grade of around 68% and students will be expected to construct proofs
involving
fundamental ideas of the course.
Working together and academic integrity
Homework: We have no objection to collaboration on the homework,
provided
that it is done in a way that maximizes the benefit of the homework to
all people involved. It is our experience that you
get
- maximum benefit from a homework problem if you work hard on it
alone
before combining your ideas with someone else's,
- no benefit from one person just telling another how to do a
problem.
Regardless of whether you arrive at solutions in collaboration with
others or alone, the paper
that you turn in with your name on it should represent your own
solutions,
written in your own words.
In particular, you may not simply copy someone else's homework
and
turn it in as your own. Similarly, copying solutions that you
might find on
the web or from some other source is illegal.
These will all be treated as a violation of UBC's
Academic
Integrity Code. We take academic
integrity
very seriously and will follow university procedures in all cases of
suspected
cheating - disciplinary
measures can result in expulsion.
Exams: There is anecdotal evidence that quite a bit of cheating
occurs on
campus.
In an effort to prevent one common form of cheating, we will xerox a
random
sample of exam books before returning them.
Class etiquette
Use of cell phones (in any manner), laptops, iphones, Blackberries
and other electronic devices during class is highly inappropriate,
distracting and disrespectful to fellow students and the instructor.
Chatting with neighbours, even when whispered, is equally unacceptable.
If you have a question then please ask the instructor so the whole
class may benefit too. Arriving late and leaving early is also
discouraged. If it happens then please enter/leave the room silently
and do not disrupt the other students or instructor. Thank you.
Assignments
Assignment
1, due Thursday January 12th.
Assignment
2, due Thursday January 19th.
Assignment
3, due Thursday January 26th.
Assignment
4, due Thursday February 2nd.
No homework
due Thursday Feruary 9th due to midterm.
Assignment
5, due Thursday February 16th.
Assignment
6, due Thursday March 1st.
Assignment
7, due Thursday March 8th.
Assignment
8, due Thursday March 15th.
Assignment
9, due Thursday March 22nd.
Assignment
10, due Thursday March 29th.
Assignment
11, due Thursday April 5th.
Solutions
These
are to help you study. Please make sure your solutions include
full details and citations.
Assignment
1
Assignment
2
Assignment
3
Assignment
4
Assignment
5
Assignment
6
Assignment
7
Assignment
8
Assignment
9
Assignment
10
Assignment
11
Other handouts
Here are some more study materials I found to help, or might be
interesting.
Other useful links