Coursework
Assignment calendar
Homework materials and submission links are added as assignments are released.
| Work | Weight | Target deadline | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework 0: mathematical readiness | 0% | Sun, Sep 6, 11:59 p.m. | PDF · LaTeX · Submit on Canvas |
| Homework 1: prediction, generalization, and evaluation | 10% | Fri, Sep 18, 11:59 p.m. | PDF · LaTeX source bundle · Submit on Canvas |
| Homework 2 | 10% | End of Week 5 | To be posted |
| Research-question first draft | Part of 10% | End of Week 6 | Template |
| Homework 3 | 10% | End of Week 7 | To be posted |
| Homework 4 | 10% | End of Week 9 | To be posted |
| Homework 5 | 10% | End of Week 11 | To be posted |
| Research-question revised note | Part of 10% | End of Week 12 | Guidelines |
| Homework 6 | 10% | End of Week 13 | To be posted |
| Final oral exam | 20% | Final-examination period | Topic list posted at least one week before |
The raw weights shown for the six homeworks are each 10 percentage points. The two-lowest-grade replacement described in the syllabus is applied before the homework component is calculated.
Late homework is not accepted. The two-lowest-grade replacement covers ordinary illness, overload, and missed work.
What homework is for
Homework serves three purposes:
- Practice: reconstruct definitions and proofs until the ideas become usable.
- Diagnosis: discover gaps in prerequisites or understanding while there is time to repair them.
- Communication: explain mathematical claims precisely, including assumptions and limits.
A typical two-week assignment will have about four substantial problems, usually with several parts. Some problems will develop one result in stages. Others will ask for a counterexample, a theorem audit, or a short explanation connecting a mathematical model to a current AI system.
Submission format
Use the homework LaTeX template. Submit each graded homework through Canvas Assignments as a ZIP archive named hwNN-ccid.zip, where NN is the two-digit homework number and ccid is your University of Alberta CCID. For example: hw01-jsmith.zip.
The archive must contain a single top-level directory named hwNN-ccid. This directory must contain at least:
hwNN-ccid.pdf: the submitted solution;hwNN-ccid.tex: the main LaTeX source.
Include any additional files needed to compile or reproduce the submission, such as figures, code, or data. Do not include generated LaTeX files such as .aux, .log, or .synctex.gz.
Your name and CCID must appear on the first page of the PDF. Identify collaborators and list all sources and tools used. The mathematical writing must be your own. The most recent archive submitted before the deadline will be graded.
Homework 0
Homework 0 is not graded. It tests proof writing, probability, linear algebra, optimization, and comfort with abstraction. Attempt it during the first week without looking for outside solutions. If substantial parts remain inaccessible after reviewing the relevant prerequisites, speak with the instructor promptly and decide whether the course is a good match.
Submit Homework 0 on Canvas by Sunday, September 6, at 11:59 p.m. Use hw00 in the submission naming convention above.
Homework 1
Homework 1 is due Friday, September 18, at 11:59 p.m. It is worth 100 points and 10% of the course grade. The assignment identifies the required parts and the optional, ungraded extensions. A self-contained LaTeX source bundle is also available. Submit Homework 1 on Canvas.