ENGR 104: COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING

Course Syllabus

Course Objective: An introduction to engineering numeric computations using the MATLAB

software package. Structured programming via script and function files are used for numeric and
symbolic algebraic and calculus for both scalar and matrix quantities. Simulated engineering
situations are used to generate data for analysis via statistics, curve fitting, interpolation, and
graphic visualization. The class will be conducted in a “learning-laboratory” style in which
students exercise a self-paced individual learning experience through the completion of weekly
assignments and quizzes.

Instructors

Prof. William Carlson Dr. Wallace Leigh

McMahon 228A Seidlin Annex 221
carlson@alfred.edu 871-2463
fleigh@alfred.edu

Textbook: Palm, W.J., Introduction to MATLAB 7 for Engineers, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, ISBN
0072548185.

Other course materials: Please reference Blackboard for other course ‘handouts’, announcements, and
information.

Grading categories: Quizzes 40%, Homework 50%, Project (Pine Hill Derby) 10%.

Homework: All assigned homework is to be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the due date. Homework will not
be graded for credit if handed in at any other time unless prior notification and approval is given.
Generally, homework will be turned in electronically. Assigned problems must be solved in a neat,
legible, orderly fashion. Neatness, attention to detail, proper grammar, and documentation of each step in
the modeling process indicates that the work was performed in a thoughtful and meticulous manner.
Points will be deducted on homework that is consistently unorganized. Students are encouraged to
collaborate on homework, but must submit individual solutions that indicate individual contributions.

Quizzes: There will be quizzes, covering a particular section, given every week. Typically each quiz
should be completed in 30 minutes or less.

Project: Teams will be formed for the Pine Hill Derby. The contest may be administered by the student
professional organizations (ASME, IEEE). Derby dates and rules will be posted on Blackboard.
Course Outline
Week Description Reading
1 Introduction
Program format Available on BlackBoard, Course Documents

MATLAB and Problem Solving Chapter 1

MATLAB Interactive Sessions 1.1
Menus and the Toolbar 1.2
Computing with MATLAB 1.3
Script Files and the Editor/Debugger 1.4
The MATLAB Help System 1.5
Problem-Solving Methodologies 1.6
Problems: TBA

Array and Matrix Operations Chapter 2

Arrays 2.1
Multidimensional Arrays 2.2
Element-by-Element Operations 2.3
Problems: TBA

Quiz on Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2

2 Files, Functions and Data Structures Chapter 3
Using Files 3.1
The Import Wizard 3.2
Controlling Input and Output 3.3
Elementary Mathematical Functions 3.4
User-Defined Functions 3.5
Problems: TBA

Quiz on Chapters 3
3 Programming with MATLAB Chapter 4
Relational Operators 4.1
Logical Operators and Functions 4.2
Conditional Statements 4.3
Loops 4.4
The Switch Structure 4.5
Debugging MATLAB Programs 4.6
Problems: TBA

Quiz on Chapter 4 pp. 90, 121, 144-145

4 Plotting and Model Building Chapter 5
xy Plotting Functions 5.1
Subplots and Overlay Plots 5.2
Special Plot Types 5.3
The Plot Editor 5.4
Function Discovery 5.5
Regression 5.6
The Basic Fitting Interface 5.7
Three-Dimensional Plots 5.8
Problems: TBA

Quiz on Chapter 5
 5 Linear Algebraic Equations Chapter 6
Elementary Solution Methods 6.1
Matrix Methods for Linear Equations 6.2
Cramer’s Method 6.3
Problems: TBA

Probability, Statistics, and Interpolation Chapter 7

Statistics, Histograms, and Probability 7.1
The Normal Distribution 7.2
Problems: TBA

Quiz on Chapters 6 & 7

6 Numerical Calculus, Differential Equations, and Chapter 8
Simulink
Review of Integration and Differentiation 8.1
Numerical Integration 8.2
Numerical Differentiation 8.3
Problems: TBA

Quiz on Chapter 8
7 Symbolic Processing with MATLAB Chapter 9
Symbolic Expressions and Algebra 9.1
Algebraic and Transcendental Equations 9.2
Calculus 9.3
Problems: TBA

Quiz on Chapter 9

Grade ranges:
A ≥ 95% 95% > A- ≥ 90%
90% > B+
≥ 87% 87% > B ≥ 83% 83% > B- ≥ 80%
80% > C+ ≥ 77% 77% > C ≥ 73% 73% > C- ≥ 70%
70% > D+ ≥ 65% 65% > D ≥ 60% 60% > F

Grading rubric:
• Program interprets with errors: 80-100% off
• Program interprets and runs but with major logic errors: 50-80% off
• Program interprets and runs but with minor logic errors: 20-50% off
• Correct logic but inadequate documentation: 5-20% off
• Correct logic and documentation is complete: 0% off

Note: These are only guidelines which may be altered at the instructor’s discretion.

Other Notes:
1. Attendance is not required, but is highly encouraged. Homework and exam material draw heavily on
lecture material and missing lectures will most likely effect quiz, homework, and laboratory
results..Students are responsible for the material covered in class, all assignments given or to be handed in,
and any changes made to the course schedule whether or not you are in attendance.
2. E-mail is the preferred medium for communicating changes to the class. All email notifications will be sent
to the student’s Alfred University accounts only. Course information, such as this syllabus and instructors’
schedules, can be found on the Blackboard Server in the ENGR 104 class.
3. All acts of academic dishonesty will be handled swiftly in accordance with published Alfred University
Regulation #700.
All assignments, unless otherwise specified, must be your own work. No collaboration is allowed.
Academic Dishonesty, e.g. plagiarism, will result in a failing grade for the course for the first offense. The
reason is that all assignments are generated in electronic format and can be effortlessly copied. Thus the
penalty will be severe to deter potential offenses. Note: copies can be detected.