Mount Holyoke College

Math 125: Seminar on Fractals and Chaos

The course was established by Prof. Alan Durfee.

Instructor: Sergei Chmutov

Lectures: Monday, Wednesday 11:00-12:15 in Reese 316.
There are weekly homework assignments.

Basic book: James Gleick, Chaos: making a new science (Penguin Books, 1988).
Other books cited can be found in the bibliography.

Technology: You will need a calculator for this course, one that does logarithms. We will also be using a computer program called "Chaotic dynamical systems software". This program runs on the Mac and is available in the computer labs.

Quizzes, Tests: There will be two tests (Feb.28, Apr.19), a self-scheduled final examination, and perhaps some quizzes (which will be announced in advance).

Grading: Each test will count 20%, the final examination will count 25%, and the homework will count 35%.

Syllabus

Useful web site: Dynamical Systems and Fractals Lecture Notes by David J. Wright (Oklahoma State University).