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Description
The subject of differential equations can be described as the study of
equations involving derivatives. It can also be described as the study of
anything that changes. The reason for this goes back to differential calculus,
where one learns that the derivative of a function describes the rate of
change of the function. Thus any quantity that varies can be described by an
equation involving its derivative, whether the quantity is a
position, velocity, temperature, population or volume.
There are three main ways to study differential equations. There are analytic
methods, wherein a mathematical formula for a solution of a differential
equation is obtained. There are Numerical techniques, which provide an
approximate solution, generally using a computer or programmable calculator.
Differential Equations can also be studied qualitatively, determining
general properties of solution without concern for exact behavior.
In this course, we will emphasize analytic methods, though qualitative and
numerical techniques will make brief appearances.
News
Wednesday 10 May: Solutions to Exam #3 are available in the hall
outside WEH 6213.
Monday 8 May: Dr. Handron's Office Hours this week will be Wednesday,
10:00-12:00 and Thursday 10:00-12:00, 2:00-3:00. The final exam will be given
on Friday. See the exam review page for details.
Friday 5 May: The Final Exam review has been posted. Follow the link
from the Schedule Page.
Saturday 29 April: The reading and homework assignments for Weeks #13
and #15
have been posted. Follow the links from the Schedule page.
Wednesday 19 April: The reading and homework assignments for Weeks #13
and #14
have been posted. Follow the links from the Schedule page.
Wednesday 19 April: I've updated the statistics page to include Exam #3.
Thursday 13 April: Well, I wrote up a nice Exam #3 for you, and when I
was done, there was no material from Section 9.3 covered. I thought you'd all
like to know that.
Wednesday 12 April: You can ignore problem #5 on the "old exam
problems" for Exam #3. It covers material from Section 6.3, which is not
covered on this exam. Additionally, note that the exam will be give during
class time in UC McConomy, and the review session will be given
Thursday from 7:00-8:30 in DH 2315.
Tuesday 11 April: The link (from the Exam #3 review page) to the old
exam problems has been corrected. It should work now.
Friday 7 April: The reading assignment for Week #12 has been
posted, as has a review page for Exam #3. Follow the links from the Schedule
page.
Tuesday 4 April: The Final Exam has been scheduled for Friday 12 May,
from 8:30-11:30am. Please take this into account when making your travel
plans.
Monday 3 April: HW#11 is really due on Friday 7 April.
Friday 31 March: The reading and homework assignments for Week #11
have been posted. Follow the links from the Schedule page.
Wednesday 29 March: I've updated the statistics page to include Exam #2.
Monday 27 March: Now the reading and homework assignments for Week #10
are linked to as well as posted.
Saturday 25 March: The reading and homework assignments for Week #10
have been posted. Follow the links from the Schedule page.
Tuesday 21 March: Due to the closing of the OSC, Jeff Eisenbeis will
hold his office hours in PPB 342 from now on.
Monday 20 March: The review session for Exam #2 will be held tonight,
from 6:30-8:00 in DH 2315.
Wednesday 8 March: Dr. Handron will not be holding his regularly
scheduled office hours on Thursday 9 March. You should make use of your
recitations and TA's office hourse instead.
Wednesday 8 March: The reading assignment for Week #9 has been
posted, as has a review page for Exam #2. Follow the links from the Schedule
page.
Friday 3 March: The reading and homework assignments for Week #8
have been posted. Follow the links from the Schedule page.
Wednesday 1 March: Here are some supplementary notes on The Wronskian and fundamental sets of solutions.
Tuesday 28 February: HW#7 is due on 3 March, not 14 October. I've
corrected the assignment page.
Tuesday 28 February: I've made some corrections to the statistics page posted last week. These changes
affect the calculation of the "Mean by Recitation" column. You may wish to
look at the corrected entries.
Thursday 9 February: The reading and homework assignments for Week #7
have been posted. Follow the links from the Schedule page.
Wednesday 22 February: Here are some statistics for the course, including information
about Exam #1.
Sunday 19 February: The homework assignments for Week #6 is due on
Friday 24 February, not 7 October.
Friday 17 February: The reading and homework assignments for
Week #5 Week #6
have been posted. Follow the link from the Schedule page.
Tuesday 14 February: Happy Valentine's Day. I'll extend tonight's
review session an extra half hour, to 9:00, since I understand some of you
have committments earlier in the evening.
Monday 13 February: I've updated the Exam #1 Review Page. I'll hold a
review session tomorrow (Tuesday) evening from 7:00-8:30 in PH 100.
Friday 10 February: Here are some notes
that cover the matrix algebra topics we will be needing. They may make a
helpful additional reference for you.
Thursday 9 February: The reading assignment for Week #5 has been
posted, as has a review page for Exam #1. Follow the links from the Schedule
page.
Thursday 9 February: Sorry I wasn't able to be with you yesterday. I'm
feeling much better today. Because we didn't get to cover everything I
intended, I'll have to make a change to tomorrow's homework. I think the most
straightforward thing to do is to simply remove the problems in section 7.2
from the assignment. I've indicated that on the assignment page. Sorry about
the late change. I'll see you tomorrow.
Friday 3 February: The reading and homework assignments for Week #4
have been posted. Follow the link from the Schedule page.
Monday 30 January: A black camera bag was left in WEH 7500 by a student
after lecture today. (This would be the 12:30-1:20 lecture.) If any of you
found it or know where it might be, please let me know and I'll pass the
information along.
Monday 30 January: The date of Exam #3 has been changed. The new date
is Friday 14 April. This is the Friday before the originally scheduled date.
Thursday 26 January: The reading and homework assignments for Week #3
have been posted. Follow the link from the Schedule page.
Friday 20 January: The reading and homework assignments for Week #2
have been posted. Follow the link from the Schedule page.
Thursday 19 January: I (Dr. Handron) will be holding office hours today
in my office (WEH 6214) from 1:30-3:30pm. My normal office hours for the
semester will be 1:30- 3:30 3:20pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, or by appointment.
Wednesday 18 January: Please see this week's assinment page for
instructions for turning in your homework.
Wednesday 18 January: I've added some (hopefully) helpful information
about kinetic and potential energy to the HW#1 assignment page. This should
help with problem 1.3.30.
Tuesday 17 January: I've corrected the due date for the first homework
assignment. It will be due this Friday, 20 January, not on 2 September, as
originally posted.
Also, the midterm Exam #3 will be given on Wednesday 19
April, rather than 19 May as listed on the syllabus handed out in class.
Finally, the TA for Section H will be Christopher Mirabito, not
Mirabato, as on the front of the syllabus handed out in class.
Monday 16 January: Starting next week, we will be using the Java
applets dfield and
pplane for some of our work. You may want to take a look and try
them out beforehand. Dfield will make more sense after reading the
examples in Section 1.1 of the text. The name dfield is short for
"direction field."
Monday 16 January: Welcome to 21-260 Differential Equations.
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