2022 January 4,

Day 01

CS 358, Winter 2022, Carleton College, Joshua R. Davis

First Part

Read the syllabus (the course web page).

Second Part

By 11:59 PM tonight, send me e-mail, at the address above, with your answers to the following questions (in the body of the message — not an attachment):

  1. What would you like to be called in class?
  2. Home town, state, country:
  3. Expected graduation year:
  4. Expected major(s):
  5. Do you know Python well enough to complete small assignments in it? Which other languages do you know that well?
  6. Did you find CS 202/Math 236 to be easy, moderate, or difficult? (Or have you not taken it?)
  7. Did you find Math 232 to be easy, moderate, or difficult? (Or have you not taken it?)
  8. Which of the following courses have you taken? (If none, that's okay. :)
    1. CS 208: Introduction to Computer Systems
    2. CS 252: Algorithms
    3. CS 254: Computability and Complexity
    4. CS 352: Advanced Algorithms
    5. Math 261/361: Complex Analysis
    6. Math 240/265: Probability
    7. Math 332: Advanced Linear Algebra
    8. Math 341: Partial Differential Equations
    9. quantum physics or chemistry that uses it
  9. Is there anything else that you want to tell me right now?

In case you're curious, here are my answers:

  1. Josh
  2. Cleveland, Ohio, USA
  3. 1998
  4. Mathematics, Computer Science
  5. Yes, I know basic Python. I also use C, R, and Mathematica regularly. Other languages I know less well.
  6. I found Math 236 to be difficult. But then I took it at the start of my first year, before I took Calculus 2.
  7. I found Math 232 to be moderately easy. I took it at the end of my second year.
  8. Which of the following courses have you taken? (If none, that's okay. :)
    1. Yes, I've taken a course like CS 208.
    2. Yes, I've taken a course like CS 252.
    3. Yes, I've taken a course like CS 254.
    4. Yes, I've taken a course like CS 352.
    5. Yes, I've taken a course like Math 361.
    6. No, but I've taught Math 240/265.
    7. Yes, I've taken courses like Math 332.
    8. No, but I use Math 341 material in my research.
    9. No, but I've studied some quantum stuff on my own.

Third Part

The third part of today's homework is to practice Python, if you need to. See the resources on the course web site, or find your own. Starting around the Day 03 homework, you are expected to write small Python programs. Get ready.