MA561 - Methods of Applied Math I

MA 561: Methods of Applied Mathematics 1

Tues/Thurs 11a.m.-12:15 p.m., CAS 229

The textbook, Olver's Introduction to Partial Differential Equations, is available through the BU library at this link.

Office hours on Thursday 9/4 3:30-5 p.m. will be moved to Tuesday, 9/9 3:30-5 p.m.

Professor: Gabriel Koch Ocker
Office: CDS 443
Email: gkocker [at] bu.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 2:30-4 p.m. and Thursdays 3:30-5 p.m.

This course is an introduction to partial differential equations. The syllabus and detailed information are here: (pdf)

Topics (may be revised):

Week 1: Introduction to PDEs, linear waves (Ch. 1, Ch.2.1)
Week 2: Linear waves, method of characteristics and d'Alambert's solution (Ch. 2.2, 2.4)
Week 3: the Heat equation and Fourier series (Ch. 3.1-2)
Week 4: Fourier series (Ch. 3.3-5)
Week 5: Orthogonal expansions and approximation
Week 7: Separation of variables
Week 8: Midterm
Week 9: Classification of PDEs, Laplace equation
Week 10: Laplace equation
Week 11: Green's functions
Week 12: Green's functions
Week 13 (Thanksgiving): Green's function for the Poisson equation
Week 14: Green's function for the Poisson equation
Week 15 (last day): Nonlinear transport

Grading:

50% Homework, assigned every 1-2 weeks
25% Midterm, given in class on October 27
25% Final Exam, Friday December 16, 9-11am, as determined by BU's final exam table.

Assignment 1 is here. It is due Thursday 9/11 at the beginning of class.

Assignment 2 is here. It is due Thursday 9/25 at the beginning of class.

Assignment 3 is here. It is due Thursday 10/2 at the beginning of class.