21-260 Differential Equations
Spring 2008
Important: According to this link, our
Final Exam is scheduled for 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, May 9.
Do not make plans to leave campus before then.
If your parents will
be making reservations for you, keep them informed so that
they
do
not schedule your departure before your exams are finished.
No one will be permitted to take the Final Exam early.
Preliminary Suggestions
Differential equations is a fascinating and compelling subject, since
physical interpretation of the mathematical models we use will always
play
a major role. Also you will have the opportunity here to exercise
your
critical thinking skills as we discuss how well our mathematical
techniques
are able to predict observed phenomena. But, for the same reason,
this
is also one of the more demanding mathematics courses since one very
seldom
has the luxury here of merely developing compuational proficiency
at the expense of underlying principles.
You are responsible for everything
which occurs in every lecture and every recitation. The course will
go
most smoothly for you if you commit yourself now to the following
habits:
(i) Decide that you will attend evey lecture and every recitation
unless
something absolutely unavoidable happens.
(ii) Later on the same day of a lecture, take
a few minutes to review what we covered, to identify quickly any
points
on
which you are confused. Seek immediate assistance through the
professor,
your TA, or one of your chums in the class. (iii) Recognize that the
exams will cover concepts emphasized in lecture; the emphasis given
in
your text to particular topics
may be somewhat different. View the lecture as your primary source
and
the
text and recitations as a supplementary resource. (iv) Spread your
work
on assignments over a week, rather than working on the problems all
in
one
day. (v) Always pause for a moment after working a problem,
not
only to check accuracy, but also to reflect on your work,
thinking about ways to
simpify what you did, or argue differently, or ask if the method you
used
is applicable in more general contexts than the one from the problem
you
just did. Engage your mind in the work that you're doing;
don't
short-change yourself by rushing to "just get it done", and don't
allow
half of your mind to be occupied with Ultimate Frisbee or something.
Are you ready? Let's have a great course!
Textbook
The text for this course is Elementary Differential Equations and
Boundary Value Problems, 8th edition, by William E. Boyce and
Richard
C. DiPrima.
Instructor
Dr. John
Tolle
Office: Wean Hall 6124
e-mail: tolle+@andrew.cmu.edu
Telephone: 268-8419
Office Hours: MWF 1:35 - 2:35, from January 14 to May 2, on
class days. I am happy to meet with you by appointment if you are
not available during this time slot. Simply email me, and we will
arrange a time.