We will begin by looking at some generalities of doing a project. Then we will look at the actual project brief.

1 Generalities on doing the project

Overview  

You are

• given a mathematical scenario to investigate;
• given a basic task which involves coding with Python;
• required to use that to generate results that you can investigate;
• required to extend the task in some way in which you have freedom;
• required to write this all up as a LaTeX document.

Mathematical investigation  

Remember that this is about mathematical investigation. You should be using coding, mathematics and your imagination. You should be clearly communicating what you have found out and how.

Before you do anything else  

Before starting you should read the brief carefully. Read the brief again. Make sure understand the key points of what is required of you.

Before going near a computer  

You should remind yourself of the coding lectures. Sam introduced many important ideas related to writing programs. Do some computations by hand so you have a deeper understanding of what you need to code. This also gives you something to check your code against. Think about what kind of results you expect to get.

Having written some code (some ideas)  

• Generate some results.
• Check that you get the same answers as your by-hand computations.
• See how far you can push the code.
• Can you improve the code? Refactor? Use functions?
• Look for patterns.
• Do patterns continue when you generate more results?
• Can you explain or prove the patterns?
• Are there limits to your code?
• Think of other things you might do.

The write-up  

• It will be read by your level 1 students.
• It should have a clear structure.
• There should be an informative introduction explaining what is done. (Usually write the introduction last.)
• Don’t spend too much time going line-by-line through code. (The markers have access to your code.)
• Do give your results, findings and any conclusions.
• Don’t plagiarise.
• Include any references.

Having written a draft  

• Reread the brief!
• Make sure you have done what you were supposed to.
• Carefully read through all that you have written.
• Edit.
• Try reading it out loud in your head so that it makes sense.
• Look carefully at the document and see if you can spot any LaTeX problems (as in the previous lecture).
• Given what you have read are there obvious extra things you might try?

Make sure you allow time for these before the deadline!