Matthew L. Wright
Associate Professor, St. Olaf College

Modern Computational Math

MATH 242 ⋅ Spring 2026

Welcome to Modern Computational Math! For grades, log into Moodle. If you need help, contact Prof. Wright.

Prof. Wright's office hours: Mon. 1–2pm, Wed. 9–10am, Thurs. 1–2pm, and Fri. 1–2pm in RMS 405. Check Google Calendar for up-to-date availability, or email to schedule an appointment.

Help sessions: Thursdays 7–8pm in Tomson 188

Top
Today
Bottom
Challenge Problems Earn a Token
Do the following before the first class:
  • Complete the Introductory Survey, if you haven't done so already.
  • Install Mathematica on your computer. If you've already installed Mathematica, open it up and check that your license key is still active. You might be prompted to upgrade to the most recent version. For assistance, see this IT Help Desk page.
Friday
February 6
Introduction; Mathematica basics
In-class problems Intro Mathematica HW demonstration Introductory Survey
Do the following before next class:
Monday
February 9
Computing \(\pi\)
Archimedes method HW In-class class demo class notes
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
February 11
Madhava series for \(\pi\)
Functions in Mathematica In-class Madhava series HW class demo class notes

Bonus video: Paths to Math: John Urschel

Do the following before next class:
Friday
February 13
Inverse tangent formulas for \(\pi\)
In-class Inverse tangent HW class demo class notes

MSCS Colloquium: A CURIous Invitation Friday, February 13, 3:30–4:30pm in RNS 210

Do the following before next class:
Monday
February 16
Formulas for \(\pi\) by Ramanujan and others
In-class In-class solutions Iterative methods HW
Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
February 18
Probabilistic approaches for \(\pi\)
In-class In-class solutions dartboard pi HW notes

Bonus video: Eugenia Cheng on The Late Show

Do the following before next class:
Friday
February 20
Fibonacci numbers
In-class In-class solutions \(\pi\) Project Sample Project Report
\(\pi\) Project
due
Do the following before next class:
  • Practice: Finish the Dart Board \(\pi\) practice problems from Wedneseday and upload your solution to the Dart Board Pi assignment on Moodle.
  • Prepare: Read Section 2.2 (pages 54–62) in the Experimental Mathematics text. Also watch The magic of Fibonacci numbers, a 6-minute TED talk by Prof. Arthur Benjamin. What is the most interesting mathematical fact about the Fibonacci numbers that you find in either the text or the video? Answer the preparation question for February 20 on Moodle.
  • Looking ahead: Read Chapter 1, "Flourishing," in Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su, available here on JSTOR. (If necessary, log into JSTOR using your St. Olaf account.) By next Wednesday, you will answer two reflection questions (see below) based on this text about mathematics as a human activity.
Monday
February 23
Fibonacci implementations
In-class class demo computing Fibonacci HW notes

MSCS Colloquium: Dr. Alex Knutson, How Simple Statistics and Human Genetics can Guide Drug Discovery Monday, February 23, 3:30–4:30pm in RNS 210

Do the following before next class:
  • Reflection: Read Chapter 1, "Flourishing," in Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su, available here on JSTOR. (If necessary, log into JSTOR using your St. Olaf account.) Then answer the following questions, writing at least one paragraph per question.
    1. What virtues have acquired as a result of doing mathematics? (Think of virtues as aspects of character that mathematics might build, such as habits of mind, that shape the way you approach life.)
    2. What value is there in studying math if you'll never use what the math that you're learning?
    The important thing is to be thoughtful about your answers. Submit your answers to the Flourishing assignment on Moodle.
  • Practice Read Section 2.3 in the text up to the "Further Generalizations" heading (pages 63–72) Then complete the Computing Fibonacci practice problems and upload your solutions to the Computing Fibonacci assignment on Moodle. Try to do this before class on Wednesday, though there is time to ask questions on Wednesday before this is due at 5pm.
  • Optional: Begin revising your \(\pi\) Project. Talk with the professor if you have questions about how to do this. Revisions are due Monday, March 2. You may submit your revisions to the same project link on Moodle as before.
Wednesday
February 25
Fibonacci identities
Fibonacci identities HW In-class class demo notes

Bonus video: Francis Su — Mathematics for Human Flourishing short version and long version

Do the following before next class:
Friday
February 27
Fibonacci polynomial identities
In-class Solving systems in Mathematica class demo notes polynomial identities HW
Do the following before next class:
Monday
March 2
Generalized Fibonacci numbers
Lucas identities HW class demo in-class notes
\(\pi\) Project
revisions due

MSCS Colloquium: Kaelyn Willingham, Doing Geometry in a Tropical Climate! Monday, March 2, 3:30–4:30pm in RNS 210

Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
March 4
Generalized Fibonacci numbers
Pell identities HW class demo in-class notes

Bonus: video How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking - with Jordan Ellenberg and article The Psychology of Statistics by Jordan Ellenberg

Do the following before next class:
Friday
March 6
Iterated functions; Collatz trajectories
class demo in-class notes
Do the following before next class:
Monday
March 9
Patterns in Collatz trajectories
Collatz patterns HW class demo in class notes Generalized Fibonacci Project
Generalized Fibonacci
Project due

MSCS Colloquium: Prof. Taylor Okonek, Mortality Estimation in Data-Sparse Settings Monday, March 9, 3:30–4:30pm in RNS 210

Do the following before next class:
Wednesday
March 11
More Collatz trajectories
Do the following before next class:
  • Practice: Read Section 3.2 (pages 110–117) in our Experimental Mathematics text. Then complete the Collatz Extensions practice problems and upload your solutions to the Collatz Extensions assignment on Moodle.
  • Reflection: Read Chapter 2, "Exploration," in Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su, available here on JSTOR. (If necessary, log into JSTOR using your St. Olaf account.) Then answer the following questions, writing at least one paragraph per question.
    1. Francis Su writes, "Even wrong ideas soften the soil in which good ideas can grow." How have you seen this in your own life? Describe some examples from your own experience that embody this truth.
    2. In what ways have you grown as a mathematical explorer so far in this course? If you're not sure, what could you do to enhance your imagination, creativity, and expectation of enchantment throughout the rest of the semester?
    The important thing is to be thoughtful about your answers. Submit your answers to the Exploration assignment on Moodle.
Friday
March 13
The logistic map
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Monday
March 16
The logistic map
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
March 18
Logistic map bifurcation diagrams
Generalized Fibonacci
Project revisions due
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Friday
March 20
The Feigenbaum constant
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Monday
March 23
Intro to Sage and CoCalc
Iterated Functions
Project due
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
March 25
Prime numbers
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Friday
March 27
Prime numbers: sieve of Eratosthenes
Have a great Spring Break! No class March 30 — April 6.
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
April 8
Properties of prime numbers
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Friday
April 10
Counting primes
Iterated Functions
Project revisions due
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Monday
April 13
Counting primes and the Riemann zeta function
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
April 15
Counting primes and the Riemann zeta function
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Friday
April 17
Detecting large primes
Primes Project
due
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Monday
April 20
Pseudorandom numbers
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
April 22
Probabilistic simulation
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Friday
April 24
Random walks
Primes Project
revisions due
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Monday
April 27
1D Random walks
  • To be announced
Wednesday
April 29
2D Random walks
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Friday
May 1
2D Random walks
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Monday
May 4
3D Random walks
Random Walk
Project project due
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
May 6
Artificial intelligence and computational mathematics
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Friday
May 8
Artificial intelligence and computational mathematics
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Monday
May 11
Final projects
Random Walk project
revisions due
Do the following before next class:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
May 13
Final projects
We've made it to the end of the semester! A few last things to do:
  • To be announced
Wednesday
May 20
Final Presentations 9:00–11:00am