Mathematical Methods of Chemical Engineering

(06-262) Spring 2001

	Course Description and Objectives
	Text for the Course
	Contact Info (instructor, teaching assistants, computer assistants)
	Grading and Policies
	Schedule: Lectures and Exams
	Homeworks, Exams, and Solutions (and previous exams)
	MathCAD Help - Mathsoft web site - best to run through MCAD*
	Download the ChE MathCAD tutorial (Introductory)

* Please direct specific questions about MathCAD to the ChE MathCAD teaching assistant Alan Braem ( abraem@andrew.cmu.edu).

Course Description

Course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays in DH 1112 from 8:30 - 10:20am 

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to develop mathematical skills specific to the types of problems encountered in engineering, specifically chemical engineering. The course will concentrate on both the specifics of the mathematical techniques and the practice of developing mathematical models from physical systems.

This course will cover the modeling of steady state mass and energy balance problems using linear and matrix algebra, including Gauss elimination, decomposition and iterative techniques. These techniques will be extended to cover the modeling of unsteady state engineering problems using linear and nonlinear differential equations. Analytical techniques, including Laplace transforms, and numerical techniques for the solution of first and higher order differential equations and systems of differential equations arising in engineering models. Finally, the course will cover the modeling of processes affected by chance and subject to experimental error; statistical and regression techniques within the context of experimental design and analysis of experimental data.

Prerequisites: 21-122 (Calculus 2) or 21-118 (Calculus mini).  Note:  If you have not taken Thermodynamics, come and talk to me!

Course Objectives

• Introduce differential equations (first and higher order) and solution techniques.
• Introduce linear algebra and matrix techniques.
• Introduce statistical and probability analysis.
• Develop modeling skills using differential equations, linear algebra and statistics.
• Develop the skills necessary to use software packages* as tools in problem solving.

* As part of this course, you will be expected to become proficient in the use of MathCAD 2000. You will be instructed in the basic use of this package and how to apply it to the techniques learned in the course.

Course Structure

The goals of this course are really twofold: to develop skills in solving mathematical problems and to develop skills in mathematical modeling of physical situations. Therefore, the first half of each lecture will concentrate on the techniques and will be similar to the math courses that you have had in the past. The second half of each lecture will focus on using those techniques to solve engineering problems and in developing mathematical models. These two parts are intimately connected and neither should be considered less important. Homework and exams will have a similar structure.

The following text is required for this course:

Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 8th Edition by E. Kreyszig, John Wiley&Sons Publ. 1999**

** In 1998 & 1999, the 7th edition of this text was used. If you have a used copy of the 7th edition, it is probably alright, but I expect you to check for consistency in homework problems etc.

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Contact Information and Office Hours

...or by appointment with any of us. Make an appointment by e-mail.

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Grading and Policies

Exams will be given on Tuesday February 13, Thursday March 22 and Thursday April 26. The final exam will be given during the regular final exam period.

Policies:

• Homework will be assigned weekly. The purpose of these assignments is to help you learn the material and reinforce the lectures and text. It is okay (and encouraged) to discuss an assignment or problem with other members of the class but the written solutions to homework problems must be your own and not copied from someone else. This includes assignments that involve software packages. I consider copying homework to be plagiarism and, if caught, will result in severe disciplinary action. Late homework will not be accepted without a written medical excuse. Solutions will be available after the due date for the homework.
• A portion of your homework grade (10%) will be given for presentation; this will be at the discretion of the teaching assistant grading the work.  Solutions should be neatly written and clearly organized. All solutions should be written on one side of the paper.  Your name, the date and the homework set number should appear on the top of the first page and each page should be numbered as page x of y.  Plots and figures should have titles and the axes and symbols clearly labeled.

• Exam dates are listed above. Make-up exams are possible only in the case of a medical emergency and a written medical excuse from a physician will be required. Coverage will include lectures and homework given since the last exam and including the last lecture before the exam itself. The final will be cumulative with added emphasis on material covered after the third exam. Again, a medical emergency is the only excuse for missing the final exam. Please contact me as soon as possible to alert me of a missed exam.

• Re-grade requests must be made in writing within one week of the return of the assignment/exam. If you feel that the grade is incorrect due to misinterpretation or addition, explain your case in words and return the description and assignment/exam to the instructor.

• Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please see the CMU Student Handbook (online) for definitions of cheating and plagiarism, and the severe consequences of such behaviors.

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