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Course Description

Numerical computation often involves problems where exact solutions are difficult or impossible to calculate. Some equations lack closed-form solutions, some require summing infinite series, and others involve computationally expensive operations that exceed practical limits. Approximation, which is the process of estimating values instead of calculating exact ones, helps address these challenges by balancing precision with efficiency.

In this course, you will investigate how approximation allows you to solve real-world problems when exact computation falls short. You’ll study core approximation topics, including error analysis, floating-point computation, and numerical techniques for derivatives and integrals. By the end of the course, you’ll have gained experience in identifying and managing errors effectively, refining computational methods, and applying approximation techniques in fields such as engineering, physics, and machine learning, where precision and reliability are crucial.

Faculty Author

David Bindel; Anil Damle

Benefits to the Learner

  • Analyze sources of error in numerical computations in terms of absolute and relative error, conditioning, and error propagation
  • Compute with floating-point numbers and diagnose and fix common pitfalls of computing in floating point
  • Derive basic numerical methods for approximation of derivatives and integrals and analyze their error

Target Audience

  • Software engineers building AI-powered applications
  • Data analysts and scientists working with large-scale datasets
  • Engineers applying computational methods to complex systems
  • Web and frontend developers integrating machine learning features
  • Computational biologists and scientific researchers modeling real-world phenomena
  • Investment managers leveraging quantitative analysis
  • Game developers optimizing physics engines and AI behaviors
  • Anyone in a technical role seeking to strengthen their mathematical foundation for AI and machine learning

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in
Type
2 week
Dates
Sep 09, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Standard Price $999.00
Type
2 week
Dates
Dec 02, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Standard Price $999.00
Type
2 week
Dates
Feb 24, 2027 to Mar 09, 2027
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Standard Price $999.00
Type
2 week
Dates
May 19, 2027 to Jun 01, 2027
Total Number of Hours
20.0
Course Fee(s)
Standard Price $999.00
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