Midterm study guide

Coverage

The midterm covers everything from the first week of classes up to and including the class before the midterm. In short, you are responsible for:

• everything covered in the lectures
• everything covered in the lecture notes
• everything covered in the tutorial notes
• everything covered in the assignments

If you are familiar with the following topics and techniques, then you are well-prepared for the midterm.

• basic C programming
  • formatted input/output
  • pointers
  • functions
  • dynamic memory management
  • operators
• number systems and floating point
  • how to convert between arbitrary bases
  • basic form of a floating point number (exponent, base, significand)
  • IEEE-style floating point
    • how to convert to and from IEEE floating point
  • n-digit chopping (truncating) and rounding arithmetic
• numerical methods
  • difference betwen analytical solution and numerical solution
  • sources of error
  • how to find absolute and relative error
• root-finding numerical methods
  • meaning of finding a root of an equation
  • intermediate value theorem
  • bisection, Newton–Raphson, secant methods
  • be able to describe how each method works
  • be able to work through each method
  • know the advantages and limits of each method
  • know how to look at a problem (possibly a word problem) and set it up for solving with each method
  • calculate upper bound on error for bisection method
• dynamic programming
  • basic familiarity with material presented in class

Format

The midterm will be written at the beginning of class on 26 June. Make sure you show up on time. You are advised to bring one non-programmable calculator. No other aids are permitted. You may write the midterm in pencil or pen, but remarking requests will not be considered for tests written in pencil.

Many of the questions are similar to those from the assignments. There will be very few "define such-and-such"-type questions—we're far more concerned with seeing whether you can apply the knowledge you've learned in class than whether you can simply memorize and regurgitate it.