| Section 005 |
Lecture: MWF 11:30-12:20 CBA 24
Instructor: Mark Brittenham
Office: Avery Hall (AvH) 317
Telephone: (47)2-7222
E-mail: mbrittenham2@math.unl.edu
WWW: http://www.math.unl.edu/ ~ mbrittenham2/
WWW pages for this class: http://www.math.unl.edu/ ~ mbrittenham2/classwk/221f09/
(There you will find copies of nearly every handout from class, lists of homework problems assigned, dates for exams, etc.)
Office Hours: (tentatively) (tentatively) Mo 1:00-2:00, Tu 10:30-11:30, Th 9:30 - 10:30, and whenever you can find me in my office and I'm not horrendously busy. You are also quite welcome to make an appointment for any other time; this is easiest to arrange just before or after class, or via email.
Text: Differential Equations: Computing and Modeling, by Edwards and Penney, Fourth edition, Pearson/Prentice Hall (2008).
This course, as the name is meant to imply, is intended to introduce
you to some of the problems, techniques, and applications of differential
equations (i.e., problems involving an (unknown) function and some of its
derivatives). Developing and solving such equations is a fundamental part
of many science and engineering problems. We will explore several different
approaches to differential equations, which depend on different interpretations
of the word `solving'. The course will focus on analytical methods (finding a formula),
qualitative methods (understanding the basic shape of the graph of
a solution), and numerical methods (finding approximate solutions, largely
with the help of a computer).
ACE outcome 3: This course satisfies ACE Outcome 3. You will apply mathematical reasoning and computations to draw conclusions, solve problems, and learn to check to see if your answer is reasonable. Your instructor will provide examples, you will discuss them in class, and you will practice with numerous homework problems. The exams will test how well you’ve mastered the material.
Our basic goal will be to work through some or all of each of the following chapters:
Ch. 1, First-Order Differential Equations
Ch. 2, Mathematical Models and Numerical Methods
Ch. 3, Linear Equations of Higher Order
Ch. 4, Introduction to Systems of Differential Equations
Ch. 5, Linear Systems of Differential Equations
Ch. 6, Nonlinear Systems and Phenomena
Ch. 7, Laplace Transform Methods
Homework will be assigned from each section, as we finish it.
It is an essential ingredient to the course - as with almost all of
mathematics, we learn best by doing (again and again and ...). Cooperation
with other students on these assignments is acceptable, and even
encouraged. However, you should make sure you are understanding the
process of finding the solution, on your own - after
all, you get to bring only one brain to exams (and it can't be someone
else's). For the same reason, I also recommend that you try working
each problem on your own, first. Homework will be collected, in a manner
to be determined to best meet the needs of the instructor, grader, and students,
and graded; your homework grades will make up 10% of your finasl grade.
Homework is probably the most important ingredient toward making
sure that you are understanding the material...
Quizzes will be given each Friday, during weeks that do not also contain an exam (in our class...) or the first day of classes. Each will typically consist of one question (modeled on a homework problem) from the material covered through the previous Wednesday. Your lowest two quiz grades will be dropped before computing your final quiz average, which will constitute 20 % of your grade. A missed quiz will count as zero (and will therefore be the first grade dropped); a make-up quiz can be arranged only under the most unusual of circumstances.
Midterm exams will be given two times during the semester, in the evening, outside of normal class time, approximately every six weeks (late September, early November). The specific dates will be determined by a poll of the class well in advance of the projected exam date. Each exam will count 20% toward your grade. You can take a make-up exam only if there are compelling reasons (a doctor SAYS you were sick, jury duty, etc.) for you to miss an exam. Make-up exams tend to be harder than the originals (because make-up exams are harder to write!).
Finally, there will be a regularly scheduled final exam on Thursday, December 17, from 10:00am to 12:00noon. It will cover the entire course, with a slight emphasis on material covered after the last midterm exam. It will count the remaining 30% toward your grade.
Your course grade will be calculated numerically using the above percentages,
and will be converted to a letter grade based partly on the overall average of the
class. However, a score of 90% or better will guarantee some kind of A, 80%
or better at least some sort of B, 70% or better at least a flavor of
C, and 60% or
better at least a D.
And now the obligatory pep talk:
In mathematics, new concepts continually rely upon the mastery of old ones; it is therefore essential that you thoroughly understand each new topic before moving on. Our classes are an important opportunity for you to ask questions; to make sure that you are understanding concepts correctly. Speak up! It's your education at stake. Make every effort to resist the temptation to put off work, and to fall behind. Every topic has to be gotten through, not around. And it's alot easier to read 50 pages in a week than it is in a day. Try to do some mathematics every single day. (I do.) Class attendance and doing the homework are probably your best methods for insuring that you will keep up with the material, and to make sure that you understand all of the concepts.
Departmental Grading Appeals Policy: The Department of
Mathematics and Statistics does not tolerate discrimination
or harassment on the basis of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
If you believe you have been subject to such discrimination or harassment,
in this or any other math course, please contact the department.
If, for this or any other reason, you believe your grade was assigned
incorrectly or capriciously, then appeals may be made (in order) to
the instructor, the department chair, the department grading appeals
committee, the college grading appeals committee, and the university
grading appeals committee.
| Some important academic dates |
Aug. 24 First day of classes.
Sept. 7 Labor Day - no classes.
Sept. 4 Last day to withdraw from a course without a `W'.
Oct. 16 Last day to change to or from P/NP.
Oct. 29-20 Fall break - no classes.
Nov. 13 Last day to withdraw from a course.
Nov. 25 Student holiday - no classes.
Nov. 26-29 Thanksgiving Vacation - no classes.
Dec. 12 Last day of classes.
Dec. 14-18 Final exam week.
Dec. 17 Math 221 final examination.