Math 256--Fall 2000
General Information
- Meeting Times
- MTThF 8:00-8:50
- Text:
-
Differential Equations: graphics - models - data
Lomen and Lovelock
- Course Description:
- Differential equations (DE's) are equations that
relate a function with one or more of it's derivatives. They are one
of the most useful mathematical tools for modeling real world phenomena.
We will study methods of solving DE's and getting qualitative information
about solutions that we can't find explicitly. We will a also learn ways
of relating DE's and there solutions to various real world situations.
- Homework, Tests, and All That:
- I will assign homework
approximately once a week. There will be suggested problem and
required problems. The suggested problems are meant to be more
routine problems to help you become comfortable with the concepts.
They will not be graded carefully, but make sure to look at them
carefully, they will help warm you up for the required problems and
there will be similar problems on the tests. The required problems
are meant to be somewhat more involved, giving you chances both to
look more deeply into the concepts and to get practice expressing your
mathematical thoughts clearly. Write up the required problems
carefully and turn them in, they will be graded.
We will be making use of the computer program Maple. Some of the problems
may be done in Maple and turned in electronicly.
There will be three ``midterms'' on the following dates:
September 22, October 17, and November 17.
There will be cumulative final exam at the end of the semester. It will
be at the officially scheduled final time.
You can make up a test ONLY if you have a compelling and well documented
reason for missing it.
The above factors will count towards your final grade as follows:
| Final: | 30% |
| Midterms: | 15% each |
| Homework: | 25% |
Notes on Delta Functions
Delta functions are not really functions, they are useful abstrations of
functions that allow us to model instantaneous changes in physical systems.
Here are the notes that I wrote up explaining
them in more detail and outlining there mathematical foundation.
The Final
The final will be held from 8am-11am on monday 12-11. It will cover all of
the parts of chapters 1-8, and chapter 11, that we have gone over in class.
Homework Assignments:
Due Friday 9/1:
- Suggested: Section 1.1: 1, 2 Section 1.2: 1, 3
- Required: Section 1.1: 3, 5 Section 1.2: 5
Due Friday 9/8:
- Suggested: Section 1.3 1
- Required: Section 1.3 3, 6 Section 1.4 1,
Due Friday 9/15:
- Suggested: Section 2.1: 1, 4, 11, 12 Section 2.2: 1-3, 10 Section
2.3: 11, 17
- Required: Section 2.1: 10 Section 2.2: 7 Section 2.3: 18(a)
and the Maple Intro Worksheet that we
started last thursday
Due Friday 9/22:
- Suggested: Section 2.4: 3, 4, 7 Section 2.5: 1, 3 Section 3.1: 4, 8, 15, 16
- Required: Section 2.4 9,10 Section 3.1 17
Due Friday 9/29:
- Suggested: Section 3.3: 1 a-b, 2 a-b, 4, 5, 7
- Required: Section 3.3: 6, 14
Due Friday 10/6:
- Suggested: Section 3.5: 1 Section 4.1: 1, 4, 7, 13 Section 4.2: 5a-e, 6
- Required: Section 3.5: 2 Section 4.1: 8 Section 4.2: 4
Due Friday 10/13:
- Suggested: Section 4.4: 1, 6 Section 4.5: 4, 9 Section 4.6: 1a-f, 7
- Required: Section 4.5: 8 Section 4.6: 3, 10
Due Friday 10/27:
- Suggested: Section 5.1: 1 a-f, 3 Section 6.1: 4, Section 6.2: 1, 2, 4,
13, 14
- Required: Section 5.1 5 Section 6.2 5, 16
Due Friday 11/3:
- Suggested: Section 6.3 3, 10 Section 6.4 3, 13, 14 Section 6.5 3,11
- Required: Section 6.3 14 Section 6.4 6 Section 6.5 9
Due Friday 11/10:
- Suggested: Section 7.1 1 Section 7.2 3, 12 Section 7.3 6, 13
- Required: Section 7.3 11,14
Due Friday 11/17:
- Suggested: Section 8.1 1, 2, 5, 10, 11 Section 8.2 1 a-d, 3, 6, 7
- Required: Section 8.1 3, 16 Section 8.2 2
Due Friday 12/1:
- Suggested: Section 11.1 1-5,7 Section 11.2 3, 5, 7
- Required: Section 11.1 6, Section 11.2 2, 4
For the last week:
- Suggested: Section 11.3 1, 4, 8 Section 11.4 1, 2, 7, 8 Section 11.5 4
- Required: Study for Final