Math 3280 Differential Equations and Linear Algebra Syllabus, Summer 2013

This page will be updated throughout the semester.

Worksheets     Homework     Labs     Resources

Instructor:

Marshall Hampton

Office: 172 SCC

Email: mhampton at d.umn.edu (preferred contact method)

Telephone: 726-6329

Office hours: M-Th 9:30 - 10:45, or by appointment.

Class homepage:
http://www.d.umn.edu/~mhampton/m3280sm13.html (this page)

Lecture Times:
8:00 - 9:20 am., M,Tu,W,Th (June 10th to August 2nd), EduE 50.

Lab Times:
8:00 - 9:20 am, F (June 14th - August 2nd), MonH 209.

Lab TA:
Jeremiah Zblewski, zblew003@d.umn.edu, SCC 152.

Prerequisites:
Math 1297 (Calculus II) or equivalent.

Student Conduct Code:
see the full description at www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/Student_Conduct_Code.html.

Textbook:
Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, 2nd or 3rd Edition, Edwards and Penney, Prentice-Hall, is our primary textbook.

Topics:
This course will build on your knowledge of calculus, extending it to differential equations. In addition to their intrinsic mathematical interest, differential equations are applied in a wide variety of fields. In order to understand systems of linear differential equations, we will also learn some basic linear algebra. We will try to cover chapters 1 through 7, and chapter 10. These will be covered at a pace of roughly one chapter per week. If time permits we might also cover portions of chapter 9 (nonlinear systems) and/or chapter 11 (series solutions).

Exams:
The midterm exam will be on Wednesday, July 3rd. A calculator and sheet of notes is allowed on each exam. For the final you can use two pages of notes.

Practice exams:
Practice tests for the midterms and final will be posted here 1 week before the relevant exam.

Practice midterm
Practice midterm solutions
Practice final exam
Practice final exam solutions

Calculator Policy:
Calculators are allowed during exams (note: an internet capable device is not considered a calculator). However, you are expected to show the steps that justify your answers, and to give exact answers whenever possible. This also applies to homework unless the question specifically instructs you to use a computer or calculator. On a test, any step on which you use a calculator must be clearly indicated (just write "CALCULATOR" or "CALC").

Grading:
Grades will be based on your understanding of the material as demonstrated by class participation (mainly worksheets), office hours, homework, labs, and exams. The homework assignments will be weighted equally, with the lowest score dropped. The lowest lab score will also be dropped. Grades will be assigned on a curve. The lowest two worksheet scores will be dropped. The approximate weighting is homework is 20%, midterm 20%, labs 10%, worksheets 15%, and the final exam is 35%.

Tentative Schedule
June 10 - 14 Chapter 1
June 17 - 21 Chapter 2
June 24 - 28 Chapter 3
July 1-3 Midterm, begin Chapter 4
July 8 - 12 Chapter 5
July 15 - 19 Chapter 6, begin 7.1-7.3
July 22 - 26 Finish Chapter 7, Chapter 10, begin Chapter 9
July 29 - August 1st Review.
August 2nd Final exam

Worksheets:

W 1
W 2
W 3
W 4
W 5
W 6
W 7
W 8
W 9
W 10
W 11
W 12
W 13
W 14
W 15
W 16
W 17
W 18
W 19
W 20
W 21
W 22
W 23
W 24
W 25
W 26
W 27
W 29

Homework:
Late homework is not accepted without a prior arrangement. Your answers should include intermediate steps - it is not acceptable to only write down an answer.

Assignment 1 (due Monday, June 17th).

Assignment 2 (due Tuesday, June 25th).

Assignment 3 (due Tuesday, July 2nd).

Assignment 4 (due Thursday, July 11).

Assignment 5 (due Thursday, July 18).

Assignment 6 (due Thursday, July 25).

Assignment 7 (due Thursday, August 1st).

Labs:

We will use the computer algebra system Sage for our labs. Sage can be accessed through a browser at https://sage.d.umn.edu:8000/ or https://rigel.d.umn.edu:8000/ or https://rudolph.d.umn.edu:8000/. You can access those off campus if you are on a VPN connection (see this for how to get on a VPN). If for some reason the server is down, you can also use the worldwide accessible server here although you would have to upload your previous work to it.

Help on Sage: The first two sections of the 'constructions' document (available live from the 'Help' link on a worksheet, or statically here) are especially useful for this course, as are the first few sections of the reference manual. There is also a quick reference sheet that may be helpful. Sage is based on the popular programming language Python; if you want a better understanding of python a good place to start is its official tutorial. A variety of other documentation is available here.

Lab 1 (due 6/21) online published Sage version on sage.d.umn.edu server , online published Sage version on rigel.d.umn.edu server, online published Sage version on rudolph.d.umn.edu server.

Lab 2 (due 6/28) online published Sage version on sage.d.umn.edu server , online published Sage version on rigel.d.umn.edu server, online published Sage version on rudolph.d.umn.edu server.

Lab 3 (due 7/12) online published Sage version on sage.d.umn.edu server , online published Sage version on rigel.d.umn.edu server, online published Sage version on rudolph.d.umn.edu server.

Lab 4 (due 7/19) online published Sage version on sage.d.umn.edu server , online published Sage version on rigel.d.umn.edu server, online published Sage version on rudolph.d.umn.edu server.

Lab 5 (due 8/1) online published Sage version on sage.d.umn.edu server , online published Sage version on rigel.d.umn.edu server, online published Sage version on rudolph.d.umn.edu server.


Other resources:

Interactive introduction to Python. This might be easier to use than the CodeAcademy site.
MIT ODE lectures online. This course is somewhat different from ours but there is significant overlap.
Code Academy's brief intro to Python. Totally optional but recommended.

Policy statement:
The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, handicap, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Disabilities:
An individual who has a disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect his/her ability to perform in this class should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that he can adapt methods, materials and/or tests as needed to provide for equitable participation.