Syllabus for MA 226 -B1 Differential Equations

Syllabus for MA 226 - B1 Differential Equations, Spring 2019

Course Information

Lecturer: Ryan Goh

Email: rgoh@bu.edu
Office: MCS 237B
Office Hours: Tuesday 11am-12:30, Wednesday 1pm-2:30pm, or by appointment.
Web page: http://math.bu.edu/people/rgoh/

Lectures:

Time: Tuesday, Thursday, 9:30am-10:45 am;
Location: STO B50
Lecture Notes: I will use notes with gaps for lectures. PDFs for each lecture will be posted to the Blackboard site the night before each lecture. These notes will have gaps in them. The idea is that you will download and print out (or load onto a tablet) the notes for each lecture, and bring them to class to fill in the spaces as we go through the material.

Teaching Fellow: Trevor Norton

Email: nortontm@bu.edu
Office: MCS 149B
Office Hours: Thursdays 2-4pm
Tutoring room hours: Fridays from 9 AM to 10 AM MCS B24

Discussion Sections

Section Place Time
B2 PSY B55 Tue 2:00pm-2:50pm
B3 PSY B47 Tue 3:35pm-4:25pm
B4 MCS B21 Wed 9:05am-9:55am
B5 MCS B21 Wed 10:10am-11:00am
B6 CAS B27 Wed 4:40pm-5:30pm

Course Description:

Differential equations are some of the most popular and powerful tools for understanding the natural world. In its simplest form, a differential equation is an equation which relates the rate of change of a quantity(s), with respect to some other independent variable (most often time), to the quantity itself. In this course we will discuss various methods and techniques to classify, characterize, and understand differential equations and their solutions. The techniques can be broadly organized into three types:
  • 1) Analytical: How can one write down explicit expressions to a given differential equation?
  • 2) Qualitative: Can one understand the general behavior of solutions and how they vary with changes in system parameters?
  • 3) Numerical: How can solutions be approximated using numerical algorithms and a computer?
    • Throughout, emphasis will be made on mathematical modeling with examples drawn from applications in the natural and social sciences.

    Textbook:

    "Differential Equations," by Blanchard, Devaney, Hall, 4th edition ISBN 978-1133109037 You will also need a copy of the DETools software that comes with the textbook.

    Homework and Quizzes

    Weekly homework and associated readings will be posted on the course webpage. They will be due at the beginning of your discussion section on Tuesday or Wednesday. No late work will be accepted, but it is ok if you have a classmate turn in a weeks assignment. Your lowest two scores will be dropped. Weekly quizzes will be given in discussion section. They will typically resemble (or be drawn from) problems in previous homeworks. As with homework, your lowest two quizz scores will be dropped.

    Midterms

    There will be two midterms during the semester. They will be held during lecture on Thursday, Feb. 21st and Thursday April 4th. Logistics of each exam will be discussed during class.

    Final Exam

    The tentative date for the final exam is Wednesday, May 8, 9:00am to 11:00am, in the normal lecture location STO B50. No early finals will be given and please plan your end-of-semester travel accordingly.

    Grades

    Your course grade will assigned as follows
  • Homework scores (10% - two lowest scores dropped)
  • Quizzes (10% - two lowest scores dropped),
  • Midterm 1 (20%)
  • Midterm 2 (25%)
  • Final exam (35%)

    • Classroom policies

  • Questions are always welcome during lecture. Please raise your hand. Sometimes, due to time restraints or flow of the lecture I may have to delay a question till another section, or after class.
  • The use of cellphones, laptops, or the internet, when not part of class activities (i.e. to take notes), is forbidden. Such activities can be very disruptive, distracting, and disrespectful to those around you and are not conducive to a productive learning environment. Furthermore, there are many people in this course, so small disturbances (such as whispering to your neighbor, listening to music with headphones, rustling papers, etc...) can add up and become disruptive to the lecture.
  • Please do your best to be at lecture on time. I understand that things come up once in a while, but if you are late please do not walk in front of me while I'm lecturing. It can be very distracting.

    Excused absenses and make-up exams

    Please let me know about all religious observances at the beginning of the semester. As mentioned above, there will be no make-ups for quizzes or homeworks. In extreme circumstances (religious observance, death in the family, emergency) there can be make-ups for exams. Please tell me during the first week of school if you will need a make-up exam.

    Students with disabilities

    Please contact me as soon as possible. I am happy to work with you and the BU office of disability services.

    Academic code of conduct

    Please do not cheat. Furthermore, copying of answers from a friend, solution manual, or online solution set is detrimental to your learning. You will be held to the BU academic code of conduct.

    Getting Help

    Feel free to come to office hours, or make an appointment to get help with course work and materials. If you need more help feel free to visit the math department     tutoring room for more help. See also the Math Help Night for another option.



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