Bachelor of Science (Hons) Applied Mathematics with Computing
FINAL YEAR PROJECT TITLES
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Mr. Chang Yun Fah (changyf@utar.edu.my)
Statistical Image and Video Analysis, Mathematics Education, Applied
Statistics
Project Title 1:
Online Multi Tasking Recruitment Management System
Synopsis/Introduction/ In today’s global marketplace, challenges in recruitment have
Objective:
driven the need for greater reach and exposure in finding
suitable talent vital to the success of an organisation. This
project aims to develop an efficient and effective online system
in helping the HR personnel to recruit suitable candidates at a
very short span of time. This system should be able to receive
resumes, screen, filter, rank and prioritize applications for
various job positions. The system also generates detailed reports
to the HR personnel for further actions and strategic planning.
Remark(s):
The student should have a strong interest in applying statistical
processes to solve management problems. Requires good
programming skills (preferable HTML and C++).
Project Title 2:
Facial Feature Detection and Tracking
Synopsis/Introduction/ Facial feature detection and tracking is important in vision
Objective:
related applications such as head pose estimation and facial
expression analysis. Head orientation is related to a person’s
direction of attention, it can give us useful information about
what he or she is paying attention to. To student is required to
develop a new facial detection and tracking method.
Remark(s):
The student should have a strong interest in image processing.
Requires good programming skills (preferable MATLAB).
Project Title 3:
Interactive Language Learning System
Synopsis/Introduction/ Objectives:
Objective:
1) to stimulate the learning process via a simple and
Interactive multimedia system.
2) to create a joyful learning environment to increase retention
span for language learning.
3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning system.
Remark(s):
The students should have a strong interest in childhood
education.
Requires good programming skills
Creativity is needed.
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Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Dr. Chen Huey Voon (chenhv@utar.edu.my)
Algebraic Combinatorics, Ring Theory, Pattern Recognition
Project Title 1:
Study of generating functions and Erdosian labelling for graphs
Synopsis/Introduction/ This research project requires some understanding in
Objective:
Combinatorics and Graph Theory. The student needs to study,
understand the main idea of the generating function and apply it
in the construction of the Erdosian labelling for graphs. It will
require numbering sequence formulation and generation using
software programming language. The software will enable
numerical results to correlate to the Erdosian labelling for the
different types of graphs.
Remark(s):
Strong programming skill is required.
Knowledge in combinatorics will be advantageous.
Project Title 2:
Some properties of subsets of finite groups
Synopsis/Introduction/ Let G be a finite additive group and let S be a subset of G. We
Objective:
define
k ·· S = {s1 + s2 + ··· + sk | sk ∈ S, i = 1, … , k}.
Properties of S and k ·· S are to be studied.
Remark(s):
-
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Dr. Chin Seong Tah (chinst@utar.edu.my)
Financial Mathematics
Project Title 1:
Basics of Option Pricing
Synopsis/Introduction/ In this project study, student is supposed to study basics of
Objective:
Option Pricing covering topics such as risk-neutral probability,
binomial trees and multi-period models.
Remark(s):
Students must have strong black ground in Analysis and
Probability Theory.
Project Title 2:
Geometric Brownian Model
Synopsis/Introduction/ The Geometric Brownian stock model is the basic reference
Objective:
model for Option Pricing. In this Project study, we examine how
far this is true by comparing real data with those simulated data
of Geometric Brownian Model.
Remark(s):
Students must have strong black ground in Analysis and
Probability Theory.
2
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Dr Chua Kuan Chin (chuakc@utar.edu.my)
Applied and Computational Statistics
Project Title 1:
A comparative study on some well-known numerical
optimization methods and their applications in parameter
estimation.
Synopsis/Introduction/ Well known numerical optimization methods, for instance, EMObjective:
algorithm and Simulated Annealing (SA), will be examined. The
investigation on the rate of convergence and performance like
speed and efficiency of these methods will be considered. As a
follow up in this investigation, parameter estimation for a family
of distributions will be investigated.
Remark(s):
Required good programming skills (Matlab) and strong
background in mathematical statistics.
Project Title 2:
A study on Goodness-of-fit test based on Barlett’s First Identity
for the class of distributions with orthogonal parameters.
Synopsis/Introduction/ The proposed Goodness-of-fit test for a class of distributions
Objective:
with orthogonal parameters will be considered.
Remark(s):
Required good programming skills (Matlab) and strong
background in mathematical statistics.
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Denis Wong Chee Keong (deniswong@utar.edu.my)
Algebraic Combinatorics
Coding Theory
Project Title 1:
Difference Sets
Synopsis/Introduction/ Until today, the existence of certain families of difference sets
Objective:
remain unsolved, and new difference sets have been constructed
by using different approaches from character theory, algebraic
number theory, algebraic geometry and etc. In the existence
theory of difference sets, usually a parameter series is given, and
we intend to find a group that can contain such a difference set.
Always the group order is prescribed, and the task is to find
necessary and sufficient conditions on the group structure for the
existence of a difference set.
Remark(s):
Students must at least know the following concepts:
• Groups Theory (at least have some knowledge in Sylow
Theorem)
• Ring Theory (at least know the concepts of ideals)
• Basic Concepts Design Theory
3
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Denis Wong Chee Keong (deniswong@utar.edu.my)
Algebraic Combinatorics
Coding Theory
Project Title 2:
Difference Sets Codes
Synopsis/Introduction/ It is well-known that a difference set can be viewed as an
Objective:
element in a group algebra define over a suitable field.
Therefore, a code can be constructed as an ideal generated by
the elements from the difference set in the respective group
algebra. The determination of the length, dimension, and
minimum distance of the code can be accomplished more easily
by working in group algebra.
Remark(s):
Students must at least know the following concepts:
• Groups Theory (at least have some knowledge in Sylow
Theorem)
• Ring Theory (at least know the concepts of ideals)
• Basic concepts in Coding Theory
Project Title 3:
Transversal
Synopsis/Introduction/ In this project, we investigate the concepts of transversals in
Objective:
details. If H is a subgroup of G, a right (left) transversal for H in
G is a subset T of G such that each right (left) coset of H in G
contains exactly one element of T. If G is an abelian group, then
left and right transversals are the same, and so we just refer them
as transversals. Can we get a general formula for an arbitrary
abelian group G which representing the transversal for H in G?
Remark(s):
Students must at least know the following concepts:
• Groups Theory (at least have some knowledge in Sylow
Theorem)
Project Title 4:
Abelian Character Theory
Synopsis/Introduction/ In the Abelian case, a character of the group G is a
Objective:
homomorphism from G to the multiplicative group of complex
roots of unity. Under pointwise multiplication, the set Char(G)
of characters of G forms a group isomorphic to G. The identity
of this group is called the principal character that maps every
element of G to 1. The character sum of a character χ over the
group ring element C is χ (C ) = ∑ χ (c) . If C is chosen to have
c∈C
Remark(s):
certain properties, then how do we determine the exact value of
χ (C ) .
Students must at least know the following concepts:
• Groups Theory (at least have some knowledge in Sylow
• Theorem)
• Ring Theory (at least know the concepts of ideals)
• Basic Theory in Character theory
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Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Dr. Goh Yann Ling (gohyl@utar.edu.my)
Applied Statistics, Applied Mathematics
Project Title 1:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Project Title 2:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Curve Fitting
The research project requires some understanding in least
squares regression. Student will learn how to fit the “best”
polynomial through a set of uncertain data points and evaluate
the validity of the results.
The student must have strong background in linear regression.
Required good programming skill.
Numerical Differentiation and Integration
We will normally evaluate the derivative or integral of a simple
function by using calculus. When the functions are complicated,
we have to apply some numerical techniques to obtain the
approximate values for their derivatives and integrals.
The student must have strong background in differential and
integral calculus.
Required good programming skill.
Dr. Goh Yong Kheng (gohyk@utar.edu.my)
Statistical Mechanics, Bioinformatics, Applied Mathematics,
Computational Physics
Project Title 1:
Non-Coding RNA characterization
Synopsis/Introduction/ Non-coding RNAs are segments of RNA that transcribed from
Objective:
organism’s DNA but do not translate into protein. Some of these
ncRNAs involve in certain sequence specific biological
activities. One of the common ncRNA that found in living
organism is hairpin RNA. This project is to identify and
characterize these hairpin RNAs, as well as describe its
distribution in different genomes.
Remark(s):
Strong programming skill is required.
Knowledge in molecular biology is not required but will be
advantageous.
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Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Dr. Goh Yong Kheng (gohyk@utar.edu.my)
Statistical Mechanics, Bioinformatics, Applied Mathematics,
Computational Physics
Project Title 2:
Study of phase transitions by using lattice models (Ising / Potts
Model)
Synopsis/Introduction/ Ising and Potts models are very simple models that showing
Objective:
order-disorder phase transition. One way of studying these
models are by computer simulation. In this project, student will
carry out Monte Carlo simulation for either Ising model or Potts
model. The student will need to construct the phase diagram for
the model, calculating its susceptibility, and estimating its
critical exponents.
Remark:
Strong programming skill is required.
Project Title 3:
Along-track windfield retrieval
Synopsis/Introduction/ This project is to construct wind vector field from three non
Objective:
colinear radars. The construction of windfield involve reading
binary streams of data, conversion of polar coordinates data to
rectangular coordinates, extracting wind vectors, and visual
display of the windfield.
Remark(s):
Strong programming, especially graphics programming, is
needed.
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Hii Siew Chen (hiisc@utar.edu.my)
Quality Control Chart, Statistical Inference,
Project Title 1:
Control Charting
Synopsis/Introduction/ To study some control charts in order to understand how to
Objective:
design a control chart, how to use it and how to simulate a
control chart.
Remark(s):
Require good foundation in quality control theory.
Project Title 2:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Statistical Inference
In this project, student learns how to make use of the confidence
interval and hypothesis in making good decision.
Students should have strong background in Statistics.
6
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Koay Hang Leen (koayhl@utar.edu.my)
Group Theory, Combinatorics
Project Title 1:
Partitions
Synopsis/Introduction/ Write a program which lists all partitions of a positive integer n
Objective:
(a) with an odd number of parts;
(b) with an even number of parts; and
(c) into distinct, odd parts.
Investigate your data. Formulate some conjectures and prove
them.
Remark(s):
Require knowledge of combinatorics
Project Title 2:
Tableaux
Synopsis/Introduction/ Write a program which finds the number of column strict
Objective:
tableaux of shape λ whose entries are ≤ N. State and prove
your conjectures.
Remark(s):
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Require knowledge of combinatorics, abstract algebra
Dr Leong Yoon Kwai (leongls@utar.edu.my)
Statistical Inference
Project Title 1:
Randomized Testing of Hypotheses
Synopsis/Introduction/ In testing simple versus simple hypothesis, NeymanObjective:
Pearson lemma provides a simple procedure in deriving best
test of its size. When sample is taken from discrete distribution,
one has to randomized the decision in order to achieve the exact
level of significance.
In this project, student will learn how to randomized test in
order to achieve the exact of significance.
Remark(s):
Strong mathematics background is required.
Project Title 2:
Bayesian Statistical Inference
Synopsis/Introduction/ In this project, student learns how to make use of the personal
Objective:
probability in making good decision.
Remark(s):
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Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Dr Liew How Hui (liewhh@utar.edu.my)
Computers and Mathematics
Project Title 1:
Computer Proving in Elementary Real Analysis
Synopsis/Introduction/ Logic is the foundation of mathematics. Logic is supposed to be
Objective:
coded in symbols. In this project, we will investigate how to
encode real analysis in a computer program called Coq. Coq is a
computer program that allows us to prove mathematics using
intuinistic (and classical) logic.
Remark(s):
Software: Ocaml and Coq.
Project Title 2:
Computer Proving in Euclidean Geometry
Synopsis/Introduction/ This project will use formal logic to investigate how to encode
Objective:
Euclidean geometry in a computer program such as Coq,
Isabelle, etc.
Remark(s):
Software: Ocaml and Coq or Isabelle proof assistent.
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Liew Kian Wah (liewkw@utar.edu.my)
Geometric properties of polyhedron, Probability theory, Mathematics
education, Simulation.
Project Title 1:
On the geometric properties of the (great dodecahedron)
Synopsis/Introduction/ Make a model of the selected polyhedron, investigate its
Objective:
structure, find the coordinates of all vertices, the radii of
inscribed and circumscribed spheres,
different colouring
methods and the transformation that preserve the view of the
polyhedron.
Remark(s):
Knowledge in analytical geometry and elementary group theory.
Project Title 2:
A new game (You name it!)
Synopsis/Introduction/ Design new games for recreational or gambling purposes.
Objective:
Calculate the mathematical expectation of the players, find
winning strategies and simulate the game using computer.
Remark(s):
Knowledge in probability theory and programming skills.
8
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Lim Foo Weng (limfw@utar.edu.my)
Nonparmetric regression- Kernel estimation
Bioinformatics- A study of algorithm information theory
Project Title 1:
A study of nonparametric regression – Kernel density estimation
Synopsis/Introduction/
Nonparametric regression is a form of regression analysis in
Objective:
which the predictor does not take a predetermined form but is
constructed according to information derived from the data.
Nonparametric regression requires larger sample sizes than
regression based on parametric models because the data must
supply the model structure as well as the model estimates. The
objective is to find a nonlinear relationship between a pair of
random variable X and Y.
Remark(s):
Project Title 2:
Bioinformatics- A study of algorithm information theory
Synopsis/Introduction/ Algorithmic information theory principally studies complexity
Objective:
measures on strings (or other data structures). Because most
mathematical objects can be described in terms of strings, or as
the limit of a sequence of strings, it can be used to study a wide
variety of mathematical objects, including integers and real
numbers. Objective is study the complexity of a string (DNA
sequence).
Remark(s):
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Ng Wei Shean (ngws@utar.edu.my)
Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory, Algebraic Combinatorics, Pattern
Recognition.
Project Title 1:
A study of Preserver Problems
Synopsis/Introduction/ “Preserver Problems" is the classification of operators on spaces
Objective:
of matrices that leave certain functions, subsets, relations, etc
invariant.
Remark(s):
Project Title 2:
Some properties of subsets of finite groups
Synopsis/Introduction/ Let G be a finite additive group and let S be a subset of G. We
Objective:
define
k ·· S = {s1 + s2 + ··· + sk | sk ∈ S, i = 1, … , k}.
Properties of S and k ·· S are to be studied.
Remark(s):
9
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Ong Kiah Wah (ongkw@utar.edu.my)
Analysis, Algebra.
Project Title 1:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
A study in Measure Theory
This expository project aims to expose student to some modern
analysis.
Student must have taken at least a course in real analysis and is
comfortable with rigorous proof.
Project Title 2:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Why is it not possible to trisect every angle?
This is an expository project in Galois Theory and its
application to some classical problem in mathematics.
Student must have taken a course in abstract algebra.
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Dr. Ong Poh Hwa (ongph@utar.edu.my)
Graph Theory
Project Title 1:
Self–clique graph
Synopsis/Introduction/ The clique graph of a graph G is the graph obtained
by taking the cliques of G as vertices, and two
Objective:
vertices
are
adjacent
if
and
only
if
the
corresponding cliques have non-empty intersection.
A graph is self-clique if it is isomorphic to its
clique graphs. In this project, the students study
problems concerning self-clique graphs for some
special classes of graphs. This research project
requires good foundation in graph theory.
Remark(s):
Student must have taken a course in graph theory.
Project Title 2:
Isomorphism problems in graph theory
Synopsis/Introduction/ One of the most fundamental problems in graph
theory is the Graph Isomorphism Problem : given two
Objective:
graphs GA and GB, are they isomorphic? Graphs GA
and GB are said to be isomorphic if their vertices
can be rearranged so that the corresponding edge
structure is exactly the same.
Graph isomorphism may be studied in a classical
mathematical way and also it is a problem to be
tackled with an algorithmic approach. In this
project, the students need to study isomorphism
problems for some special classes of graphs. This
research project requires good foundation in graph
theory and programming skill.
Remark(s):
Student must have taken a course in graph theory.
10
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Pan Wei Yeing (panwy@utar.edu.my)
Risk Theory
Project Title 1:
Approximations for the Gerber-Shiu expected discounted
penalty function
Synopsis/Introduction/ Three particular random variables of interest in the classical
Objective:
model of risk theory are the surplus immediately before ruin, the
deficit at ruin, and the time of ruin. An important tool in the
study of the marginal and joint distributions of these three
random variables is the expected discounted penalty function
introduced by Gerber and Shiu.
Remark(s):
Student must have strong knowledge in probability, statistics
and risk theory
Project Title 2:
An analysis of the discrete model for stock price
Synopsis/Introduction/ The discrete model for stock price contains two parameters. We
Objective:
are interested to see how these parameters influence a stock
price.
Remark(s):
Student must have knowledge in programming, i.e. Java,
Mathlab
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Project Title 1:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Pang Sook Theng (pangst@utar.edu.my)
Financial Mathematics , Mathematics Education.
Universal Portfolios and Investment
Introduction
A universal portfolio is an investment strategy that does not
depend on the underlying probability distribution of the stock
prices. The current portfolio only depends on the past stock
prices. Cover (1991) studied the uniform of Dirichlet ( 1, 1,
….., 1 ) universal portfolio with the aim of obtaining a higher
investment return than that of the buy-and-hold portfolio.
Helmbold (1998) introduced an on-line universal portfolio that
can be implemented with memory requirements that grow
linearly with the number of stocks compared with the
exponential memory requirements of the Cover-Ordentlich
universal portfolio. The parametric family of Dirichlet (
α 1 , α 2 ,......, α m ) universal portfolios was introduced by Cover
and Ordentlich in 1996 and polynomial upper bounds on the
ratio of the best achievable wealth to the universal wealth in
terms of the number of trading days were obtained for the
Dirichlet ( 1,1,……,1 ) and Dirichlet ( ½ , ½ , ….., ½ ) universal
portfolios.
Objectives of Research
Develop new investment strategies that can bring better returns
than current strategies.
Student should have strong background in Information Theory.
11
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Pang Sook Theng (pangst@utar.edu.my)
Financial Mathematics , Mathematics Education.
Project Title 2:
Applied Statistic in Mathematics Education
Synopsis/Introduction/ Study the problems of Mathematics Education and use different
Objective:
statistical method to analyze the data. Also, evaluate and study
the proposed methodology and compare with former
methodologies used.
Remark(s):
Strong background in Statistics.
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Pek Law Heong (peklh@utar.edu.my)
Heuristics
Project Title 1:
Solving Travelling Salesman Problem by Simulated Annealing.
Synopsis/Introduction/ Study on travelling salesman problem and solve using Simulated
Objective:
Annealing. Investigate the convergence factors of the method
and improve its convergence rate.
Remark(s):
Programming skills preferably in Matlab/C++ with the
background of operational research are required.
Project Title 2:
Point-Feature Cartographic Label Placement Problem
Synopsis/Introduction/ The cartographic label placement problem is an important task
Objective:
in automated cartography and Geographical Information
systems. This study focuses on minimizing overlapping among
labels using heuristic method.
Remark(s):
Programming skills preferably in Matlab/C++ with the
background of operational research are required.
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Dr. Tan Choon Peng (tancp@utar.edu.my)
Universal Portfolios, Information Theory, Stochastic Modelling
Project Title 1:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Universal Portfolio in Investment
Maximize the investment capital return using two different types
of universal portfolios.
Some elementary knowledge of Excel or Matlab is helpful
Project Title 2:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Stochastic Models and Applications
Applications of random walks or queueing networks or
branching processes
Student willing to learn simple Matlab as a tool for calculations
12
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Dr Tan Sin Leng (tslen@utar.edu.my)
Differential Geometry, Manifold Theory and Mathematical Analysis
Project Title 1:
A study on univalent functions
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Project Title 2:
A study on completely continuous operators on Hilbert spaces
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Lecturer:
Areas of Interest:
Teoh Lay Eng (teohle@utar.edu.my)
Air transportation system, scheduling system.
Project Title 1:
Environmental impacts for air transportation.
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
This project mainly focuses on the concepts related to the
environmental impacts of airports. Student need to study the
impacts particularly from the perspective of noise measurement.
This study will be applied later to the real case study in measuring
the noise level.
Required good programming skills.
Knowledge in Six Sigma is needed.
Remark(s):
Project Title 2:
Analysis of flight delays.
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
This project mainly focuses on the fundamental concepts of
delays at airport. Student need to study all the factors related to
delays and subsequently compute delays in practice.
Required good programming skills.
Knowledge in Six Sigma is needed.
Remark(s):
13
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Dr Wong Wing Yue (wywong@utar.edu.my)
Mathematical Statistics
Project Title 1:
Curve fitting
Synopsis/Introduction/ In this project. Student learns how to analyze data before fitting
Objective:
the data by a suitable model.
Remark(s):
Excel will be used in analyzing data.
Project Title 2:
Synopsis/Introduction/
Objective:
Remark(s):
Bayes Decision
In this project student learns how to integrate the personal belief
with data observed to make decision.
Need a strong mathematics background.
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Yap Lee Ken (lkyap@utar.edu.my)
Numerical Analysis, Ordinary Differential Equations, Partial Differential
Equations
Project Title 1:
Parallel Block Method for Solving Higher Order Initial Value
Problems (IVPs)
Synopsis/Introduction/ The modelling of many scientific and engineering problems
Objective:
leads to systems of IVPs. The computation time on a
conventional sequential machine is so large that it adversely
affects the productivity of engineers and scientist working on the
design of complex systems. To overcome this problem the
systems can be solved on a parallel machine using methods
specially designed for parallel execution. In r-point block
method, the interval is divided into series of blocks with each
block containing r points. r new values are obtained
simultaneously at each iteration of algorithm.
Remark(s):
Strong knowledge in Numerical Analysis and strong
programming skill are required.
Project Title 2:
Parallel Method For Solving Partial Differential Equations
Synopsis/Introduction/ The modelling of engineering problems leads Partial Differential
Objective:
Equations. The computation time on sequential machine affects
the efficiency of the work. There is a demand for efficient
parallel solution methods allowing a faster solution.
Remark(s):
Strong knowledge in Numerical Analysis and strong
programming skill are required.
14
Lecturer:
Areas of
Interest:
Yeo Heng Giap Ivan (yeohg@utar.edu.my)
Inventory Theory
Project Title 1:
A model for production system under time-varying demand with
recycling
Synopsis/Introduction/ This project is to study the properties of a mathematical model
Objective:
for a production system where a time-varying demand for a
finished product is satisfied by new and recovered products.
Remark(s):
Project Title 2:
A model for a production system under time-varying demand
with batch shipment
Synopsis/Introduction/ This project is to study the properties of a mathematical model
Objective:
for a production system where finished items are shipped out in
batches. Items held in stock are subject to constant deterioration.
Remark(s):
15