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PMATH 370Chaos and Fractals

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Pure Mathematics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 1 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

The mathematics of iterated functions, properties of discrete dynamical systems, Mandelbrot and Julia sets.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH114 - Linear Algebra for Science (0.50)
      • MATH115 - Linear Algebra for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH136 - Linear Algebra 1 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH146 - Linear Algebra 1 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
      • MATH225 - Applied Linear Algebra 2 (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH119 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
      • MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

81% liked it75% easy65% useful

From 16 ratings and 10 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Amazing class. Very interesting and non obvious applications

    Jun 2020 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Before the midterm, the course mainly focused on chaos theory, including fixed points, periodic points, transitivity, and some related topology. After the midterm, the course shifted toward fractals, covering topics such as Julia sets, the Mandelbrot set, and IBFTs. Overall, the course covers a wide range of interesting material, has a moderate level of difficulty, and the assignments are not too hard. I would strongly recommend it to students who are interested in pure math topics beyond the standard curriculum.

    May 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Useful: moderately. Easy: for a PMath class. Fun: absolutely! This course is only offered once every two years. Don't miss your chance.

    Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course is a gentle Pure Math Course. It introduces some real analysis and topology concepts on the path to learning about Chaos and Fractals. In W24 Blake Madill did a great job of making the content accessible to everyone's background but still super engaging. Blake is a great lecturer and kept the class engaged. If you have taken a lot of analysis/topology courses before this you might not learn the most. This offering had 4 assignments you could complete in groups, a midterm, and then a final worth 60%. Averages were high for assessments and Blake still added marks. Overall, a very fun and relatively easy math elective where you learn super cool math!

    May 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Highly recommended if the professor is Blake.

    Apr 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

47 posts and comments in 40 threads mention PMATH 370, June 2012 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 2024

Spring 2023

Fall 2022

Winter 2022

Michael Palmer has been fired! 188 points, 104 comments

“Source: https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.therecord.com%2Fnews%2Fwaterloo-region%2F2022%2F03%2F23%2Funiversity-of-waterloo-fires-professor-over-vaccine-mandate.html%3Frf”

u/SnooOnions2981: “How is Professor Edward Vrscay? In the news, he is also going through the disciplinary process and waiting termination notice. I felt sad for him, I heard he is an awesome prof.”

u/GuessEnvironmental: “Reading this letter and realizing that is the reason stephen new is now teaching pmath 370 and making it a absolute nightmare lol.”

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Good math electives courses? 1 point, 4 comments

“I was wondering if anybody knew of any good elective courses to take relating to math, economics, business or commerce?”

u/vim_spray: “… - PMATH 370: interesting course, but only offered every 2 years. - CO 487: taking this right now, I’m enjoying it a lot. …”

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Fall 2021

Cm+stat course list 5 points, 4 comments

“Hi, I'm a 2A student and I'm wondering to declare my major as Cm and Stat. I'm confused about the choice of courses because I want to make sure I finish it in 40 courses. …”

u/hctiBknirD: “… CS 246, cs 479 (any 400 level math course), co487, elective 4B: stat 443, stat 431, cs 476, pmath 370, elective One of the requirements for CM is 3 econ/science/eng courses, I am considering taking ECON 322 and 323 in 4A and 4B as they seem like they would be easy for a stat …”

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Spring 2021

Software in math 5 points, 10 comments

“How many math classes at Waterloo expect you to program in it . I am horrible with software , I hate cs and R but like those classes require me to program and I hate it . …”

u/blank_anonymous: “… I think that PMath 370 uses coding, but that's not a course you need to take as a pmath major. …”

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Fall 2020

I'm leaving UW after 19 school terms in a row, AMA. 590 points, 142 comments

u/79037662: “What undergraduate courses did you enjoy most? Do you like analysis or algebra better (or do you like them equally)?”

u/Willow_Thin: “PMATH 370, analysis. I'm ass at algebra.”

u/ram8g: “What courses you took? And can I ask for some pointers. I'm trying to study a bit of pure math on my own”

u/Willow_Thin: “PMATH 370, 351, 352, 450, 451, and some topics courses.”

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