This course is a quantitative and mathematically rigorous introduction to concepts that underlie the Internet and Web search engines. A challenging problem will introduce each topic, and the exposition of principles and relevant theorems will be followed by an application to the Internet, and at least one other application in the Social Sciences (e.g. social networks) or the Humanities (e.g. author identification).

The course counts as one of the two mathematics courses that must be taken in order to meet the Rutgers graduation requirements in quantitative reasoning.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Do and explain elementary examples of the quantitative processes underlying the internet information environment.
• Discuss the relations of these processes to the social and economic impacts of that environment.
• Be better prepared to contribute in the information environment, understand its strengths and weaknesses.
• Serve as leaders in an ever-changing world of technology.