Fall 2026

Numerical Analysis

Numerical Analysis covers polynomial approximation, interpolation, splines, numerical integration, and methods for solving ordinary differential equations.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 Qin Li3.7/5

Summary

1 / 6

Reviewers describe the workload as manageable with relative homework, but note a large volume of material and a tough class environment requiring strong math preparation.

Grade history

average GPA
letter grades
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

(MATH 320, 340, 341, 345, or 375), (MATH 322, 341, 375, 421, or 521), and (COMP SCI 200, 220, 300, or placement into COMP SCI 300), graduate/professional standing, or declared in Mathematics VISP (undergraduate or graduate)

COMPSCI/MATH 514

This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree

Professors

Fall 2026
/5Adjusted rating
/5RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.79/5 from 28 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

For this course: 5.0/5 raw quality · 3.5/5 difficulty · 6 reviews

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

Qin Li receives consistent praise for clear lectures, approachability, and helpful office hours. Reviewers note she explains difficult concepts well and provides exam guidance. While some find the workload light, others describe the class as tough but meaningful, highlighting her kindness and deep knowledge.

Recent recorded grades — Fall 2018: 2.98 GPA, 45.3% A/AB (n=106 letter grades); Fall 2020: 2.94 GPA, 42.0% A/AB (n=50 letter grades); Spring 2024: 2.89 GPA, 42.6% A/AB (n=47 letter grades).

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Qin Li is the current instructor, but reviews for historical professors like Chenxi Wu describe confusing lectures and exams unrelated to coursework. Chris Rycroft receives polarized feedback, with some praising his enthusiasm and others calling his lectures disorganized. Saverio Spagnolie is noted for engaging lectures and breaking down difficult concepts effectively.

CHENXI WU is recorded teaching in Fall 2020. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

CHRIS RYCROFT is recorded teaching in Spring 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

LAUREL OHM is recorded teaching in Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

QIN LI is recorded teaching in Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2018, Fall 2020, Spring 2024. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

SAVERIO SPAGNOLIE is recorded teaching in Fall 2017, Fall 2019, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Fall 2026

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction13 / 600
LEC 001Classroom Instruction43 / 600

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records

Student experience

the class

Qin Li receives consistent praise for clear lectures, approachability, and helpful office hours, though one review notes the class material is extensive and the course itself is tough.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.40 GPA, 66.7% A/AB (n=30 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.57 GPA, 71.7% A/AB (n=46 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.77 GPA, 95.2% A/AB (n=42 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Reviewers describe the workload as manageable with relative homework, but note a large volume of material and a tough class environment requiring strong math preparation.

Students value Qin Li's clear explanations, exam guidance, and accessibility, finding her kind and helpful, while one reviewer highlights her inspirational and research-oriented teaching style.

Topics

  • Polynomial interpolation
  • Polynomial approximation
  • Numerical differentiation and integration
  • Spline approximation
  • Numerical methods for ODEs

Skills

  • Polynomial interpolation and approximation using Chebyshev and orthogonal polynomials.
  • Numerical differentiation and integration techniques.
  • Spline and B-spline approximation methods.
  • Solving initial and boundary value problems for ordinary differential equations.

Grades

Latest available · Spring 2026— not enough history to project Fall 2026.

average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

Grades over time

Through Spring 2026

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Where this course fits relative to

Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels

GPA

Higher than % of other courses in this group.

Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range

letter grades

More recorded grades than % of other courses in this group.

Typical course in this group: letter grades.

About this comparison

1283 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.

Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

Selected offering source records
COMPSCI/MATH 514 · Fall 2026

Numerical Analysis

Recorded 2026-09-07
COMPSCI/MATH 514 · Fall 2026

Numerical Analysis

Recorded 2026-09-07
Raw records
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    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "004270",
    "source_subject_id": "266",
    "title": "Numerical Analysis",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
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    "offering_id": "1272:600:004270",
    "course_id": "COMPSCI/MATH 514",
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    "term_id": "1272",
    "source_course_id": "004270",
    "source_subject_id": "600",
    "title": "Numerical Analysis",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

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Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Model & dataset provenance
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  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
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  "output_id": "d0cc749cdefdb62694a6cbff00b3f89b9ffc869c0781a3b9474e9d5bc28d80fb",
  "requirements_status": "needs_review",
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}