Computational methods in optimization

Initial survey -- your course goals

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences in a typed manuscript and submit the solution to me in class on January 12th, 2012.

Date: 2012-01-10.

0) Please tell me about yourself: name, MS/PhD objective, adviser (if you have one), year in program, research area.

1) Why are you taking the class?

2) Do you want to see formal proofs that the optimization algorithms work, or would intuitive arguments be okay?

3) Would you rather see more optimization software packages and ideas and less depth, or would you rather have more depth and fewer ideas?

4) In an effort to tie faces to names, please email me a recent photo of yourself. Then give yourself a pat on the back.

5) Tell me about your previous linear algebra, matrix analysis, or numerical analysis classes. What topics did you cover?

6) Tell me about any mathematical analysis classes you’ve had.

7) Have you used Matlab before?

8) Have you used SciPy before?

9) Have you used R before?

10) Have you used Mathematica before?

11) Any other numerical computing packages?

12) Have you used any optimization software before, if so, which one(s)?

13) Which of the topics from the syllabus are you most excited about?

14) Anything missing from the syllabus you were hoping to learn about?