MA 561: Methods of Applied Mathematics 1
Tues/Thurs 11a.m.-12:15 p.m., CAS 229
Announcements
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.
Midterm practice problems are available here.
Solutions to the midterm exam are here.
Contact information
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.
Course information
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 (Ch. 3)
- Week 6: Separation of variables (Ch. 4.1, 4.2)
- Week 7: Classification of linear second-order PDEs, review (Ch. 4.4)
- Week 8: Midterm
- Week 9: Laplace's equation, separation of variables (Ch. 4.3)
- 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.
Problem sets
Assignment 1 is here. It is due Thursday 9/11 at the beginning of class. My solutions are here.
Assignment 2 is here. It is due Thursday 9/25 at the beginning of class. My solutions are here.
Assignment 3 is here. It is due Thursday 10/9 at the beginning of class. My solutions are here.
Assignment 4 is here. It is due Thursday 10/16 at the beginning of class. My solutions are here.
Assignment 5 is here. It is due Thursday 11/13 at the beginning of class.
Assignment 6 is here. It is due Tuesday 11/25 at the beginning of class.