Fall 2022 - MATH 303 D100

Mathematical Journeys III (3)

Class Number: 4166

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MATH 152 or 155 or 158, and MATH 232 or 240, all with a minimum grade of C-. There may be additional prerequisites depending on the specific course topic.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A focused exploration of a special topic (varying from term to term) that builds on mathematical ideas from lower division courses and provides further challenges in quantitative and deductive reasoning. Each Journeys course is designed to appeal particularly to mathematics minor students and others with a broad interest in mathematics. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Applications of mathematics to the study of sport, with an emphasis on Olympic sporting events. The course will be organized roughly around weekly "modules," each of which focuses on a particular sport or a common issue relating to several sports. Examples of possible topics of study include:

  • Who really won the 2016 Summer (or 2018 Winter) Olympics?
  • What are the limits of human performance? And will women ever outperform men?
  • Who is the fastest (wo)man on the planet?
  • Is there an optimal technique for throwing a discus/javelin/shot?
  • Is the judging system in figure skating a fair one? Does the Olympic triathlon penalize good swimmers?
  • Is there really a "home ice advantage" in the Stanley Cup playoff series?
  • What is the optimal rower configuration in the rowing fours and eights?

These and other questions will be tackled using a variety of mathematical techniques, including calculus, linear algebra, probability, statistics and game theory. Examples will be illustrated in class using software packages such as Microsoft Excel, Matlab and Maple, and the code will be distributed to students for their own experimentation.

Grading

  • Assignments 30%
  • Midterm Test 30%
  • Project 40%

NOTES:

THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ANY OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION.
Students should be aware that they have certain rights to confidentiality concerning the return of course papers and the posting ofmarks.
Please pay careful attention to the options discussed in class at the beginning of the semester.

REQUIREMENTS:

This course is delivered in person, on campus. Should public health guidelines recommend limits on in person gatherings, this course may include virtual meetings. As such, all students are recommended to have access to strong and reliable internet, the ability to scan documents (a phone app is acceptable) and access to a webcam and microphone (embedded in a computer is sufficient).

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

The Hidden Mathematics of Sport
Rob Eastaway and John Haigh
Portico, 2021
978-1911-62228-4


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html