AMATH 442Computational Methods for Partial Differential Equations
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Applied Mathematics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course studies several classes of methods for the numerical solution of partial differential equations in multiple dimensions on structured and unstructured grids. Finite volume methods for hyperbolic conservation laws: linear and nonlinear hyperbolic systems; stability; numerical conservation. Finite element methods for elliptic and parabolic equations: weak forms; existence of solutions; optimal convergence; higher-order methods. Examples from fluid and solid mechanics. Additional topics as time permits.
Prerequisites
- Must have completed the following:
- AMATH342 - Computational Methods for Differential Equations (0.50)
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6123 | 13 / 40 | MW 11:30–12:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
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From 3 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
I think this is applicable and serves as backbone in quantitative finance (options pricing?) and certain AI Image, Text, Audio, Time Series, and Video generating and editing models not just physics simulations, quantum thoery simulations, general relatibity, and ray tracing/path tracing. There was certainly a lot of functional analysis in this class, and I had no exposure to functional analysis before. If you were to show these problems to someone, they would think it is just functional analysis. If you were expecting a continuation of computational methods for ode, you're out of luck because the functional analysis used in computational methods for pde is much more broad and deeper…
Feb 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
16 posts and comments in 15 threads mention AMATH 442, December 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2023
400 level AMATH courses 3 points, 0 comments
u/luizloo: “… I am for sure going to take AMATH 451 and 455, and deciding to take one of AMATH 456, 442, 477, 453. Has anyone taken these 4 courses? Which one is easier than the rest? Could use any advice/suggestion! …”
Spring 2020
Best way to pursue CS if you’re not in CS? 10 points, 20 comments
“I just finished my 2B term, entering 3A and I haven’t declared a major yet in Math even though I probably should now. …”
u/gamb1111t: “I had friends that did computational math, which to my understanding is a much easier cs? (someone may correct me) They take some of the "algo" and "data structures" courses but the easier versions. …”
u/greenita: “… The AMATH 442 professor in last fall term said the course is SUPER hard too since it is also graduate course (according to my friend who took it that time). CS475 is another graduate course and I had no idea how to solve most of the questions during final. …”
Fall 2018
AMATH/ Scientific Computation major 5 points, 3 comments
“Hello, So I'm thinking of enrolling in the Scientific Computation major, and I wanted to ask someone who's in that program whether it's good or not ? whether it's useful or not ? …”
u/angerygoosepopo: “/u/GeeseChen”
u/Akinohana: “Also, the courses that teach numerical DEs are AMATH 342, 442 and 740. There are other numerical courses in CS and STAT but they are not for solving DEs.”
Fall 2017
PSA: UWCourseLinker back up, disabled by default, call with [[course code]] 39 points, 31 comments
u/RayDWatson: “Testing all course codes 1/61: [[ACC604]] [[ACC605]] [[ACC606]] [[ACC607]] [[ACC608]] [[ACC609]] [[ACC610]] [[ACC611]] [[ACC620]] [[ACC621]] [[ACC622]] [[ACC623]] [[ACC624]] [[ACC625]] [[ACC626]] …”
u/RayDWatson: “… [[AMATH383]] [[AMATH390]] [[AMATH391]] [[AMATH431]] [[AMATH432]] [[AMATH433]] [[AMATH442]] [[AMATH444]] [[AMATH447]] [[AMATH451]] [[AMATH453]] [[AMATH455]] [[AMATH456]] [[AMATH463]] [[AMATH473]] [[AMATH475]] [[AMATH477]] [[AMATH495]] [[AMATH655]] [[AMATH663]] [[AMATH673]] …”
u/UWCourseLinker: “… - Measure and Integration AMATH 432 - Functional Analysis AMATH 433 - Differential Geometry AMATH 442 - Computational Methods for Partial Differential Equations AMATH 444 - Applications of Computational Differential Equations AMATH 447 - Introduction to Symbolic Computation …”
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… AMATH 231 AMATH 250 AMATH 251 AMATH 271 AMATH 331 AMATH 342 AMATH 350 AMATH 351 AMATH 391 AMATH 442 AMATH 453 AMATH 456 AMATH 463 AMATH 473 AMATH 495 AMATH 663 AMATH 673 AMATH 731 AMATH 732 AMATH 740 AMATH 751 AMATH 871 AMATH 875 AMATH 900 ANTH 100 ANTH 100W ANTH 201 ANTH 202 …”
Spring 2017
Is there a program you are currently not enrolled in that you would enjoy taking out of interest? 15 points, 66 comments
“For example; you're in CS but would like to take Religious Studies out of curiosity, or a language class to learn a language particularly close to you, etc...”
u/Frozen-Placenta: “A whole bunch of upper year amath (and some pmath) courses seem pretty interesting to me, too bad there is no room in ECE. …”
u/oranjeA: “… But I would highly recommend the course and its successor, AMATH442 (computational methods for PDEs) if you came from engineering. …”
Fall 2016
CS 371/CS 370 10 points, 8 comments
“I was wondering which of the two courses is better to take in terms of both knowledge gained and applications to actual computer science?”
u/randomuwguy: “The courses are anti-requisites, so you may not find someone who has taken both courses. I took CS 370. The topics we covered (and their applications) were: Floating point numbers. …”
u/mangoismycat: “… PDEs are covered in AMATH 442.”
Spring 2016
Reddit, I have some questions about AMATH 1 point, 6 comments
u/Huex3: “That's like asking what are some of the birdiest courses in PMATH.”
u/Huex3: “… I would probably consider AMATH 442, considering that I found other computational courses to be not too hard.”
Winter 2016
Math/BBA vs CS/BBA 3 points, 13 comments
“Can someone tell me the pros/cons of either. I know they start to split of in 2nd year and I'd like an opinion of both especially in form of industry. …”
u/Huex3: “… PMATH351 and AMATH350/442/453 should be a core elective if it is not. Quantitative skills are infinitely more important than your degree. Master degree in a quantitative field almost absolutely required. PhD typically required for research level. …”
AMATH 342/442 2 points, 7 comments
u/UWquant: “Has anyone taken these courses? What are they like? What programs/languages are used? And do you think these courses are relevant to Finance? (Considering that I am probably going to take CS 476) Oh, and how much Physics was involved? Thnx”
CS 246 and C++? 1 point, 33 comments
“So as my name says, I am interested in Quantitative Finance. I am currently enrolled in CS 116 (I'm not a first year student, though), because I wanted to learn Python. …”
u/anatomyofafart: “Take CS 476 no matter what. I'm currently taking this class, and it's everything a prospective quant would want out of a course. …”
u/UWquant: “… AMath 342, 442, 351, 353, 453? I.e: Computational Math for DEs (in addition to CS 476 mind you...), ODEs 2, and PDEs? I know Black-Scholes is a PDE; and I really should have taken AMATH 350 instead of 250 -- ... but too late now. …”
Spring 2015
Questions about AMATH 3 points, 5 comments
“Hey guys, I'm interested in pursuing an AMATH minor. Can you guys recommend amath courses based on content that were more finance related? …”
u/1995_2000_2003_2016: “… But if you are, I'd suggest AMATH242/342/442 since the computational courses could help you become a better programmer/apply the quant models IRL. …”
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