Math 3280 Differential Equations and Linear Algebra Syllabus, Spring 2017

This page will be updated throughout the semester.

Worksheets     Homework     Labs     Resources

Instructor:

Dr. Marshall Hampton

Office: 172 SCC

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

Telephone: 726-6329

Office hours: 11:30 - 12:45 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Class homepage:
http://www.d.umn.edu/~mhampton/m3280s17.html (this page)

Lecture Times:
Section 009: 1:00 P.M. - 1:50 P.M., M, W, Th, F (1/11/2017 - 4/28/2017), EduE 50.

Lab Times:
010: 1:00 P.M. - 1:50 P.M., Tu, MonH 209

Lab TA:
Yifeng Mei.

Prerequisites:
Math 1297 (Calculus II) or equivalent. Examples of expected knowledge and avoidable errors.

Student Conduct Code:
see the full description at http://regents.umn.edu/sites/default/files/policies/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf.
Note that while collaborating on homework and lab assignments is encouraged, it is not acceptable to simply copy another person's work.

Textbook:
Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, 2nd or 3rd Edition, Edwards and Penney, Prentice-Hall, is our primary textbook. It does not matter which edition of the text you have.

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 some sections from every chapter of the book, although more attention will be given to chapters 1 through 7. These will be covered at a pace of roughly one chapter per week.

Primary topic outline (subject to revision):
Week 1: Introduction, slope fields and separable ODES Ch 1.1 - 1.3
Week 2: 1st order ODEs and numerical methods Ch 1.4-1.6, 2.4-2.6
Week 3: Autonomous ODEs, 1D equilibria, compartment models Ch 2.1 - 2.4, 3.1-3.3
Week 4: Matrix Algebra: row reduction, inversion 3.1 - 3.5
Week 5: Determinants, Vector Spaces 3.6 - 4.1
Week 6: Vector Spaces: bases, linear independence, subspaces, spans 4.1 - 4.6
Week 7: 2nd order ODEs and review 5.1 - 5.2
Week 8: Higher order ODEs, numerics 5.3 - 5.6
Week 9: Eigenvectors and eigenvalues 6.1 - 6.3
Week 10: Systems of differential equations 7.1 - 7.5
Week 11: Review
Week 13: Laplace Transform 10.1 - 10.5
Week 14: Nonlinear Systems 9.1 - 9.4
Week 15: Review

Exams:
There will be two midterms (2/24 and 3/31) and a final exam (Friday, May 5th, 12-1:55pm). 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 1
Practice Midterm 1 solutions
Review worksheet solutions
Practice Midterm 2
Practice Midterm 2 Solutions
Practice Final
Practice Final 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. The lowest three worksheet scores will be dropped. The approximate weighting is homework is 20%, each midterm 15%, labs 10%, worksheets 15%, and the final exam is 25%. Note that I do not use traditional grading percentages, although generally a score of around 90% of the total is sufficent for an A.


Worksheets:
W 0 Some calculus review.
W 1 Separable 1st order ODEs.
W 2 Slope fields.
W 3 Existence and Uniqueness.
W 4 Linear 1st order ODEs.
W 5 Compartment (tank) models.
W 6 Euler's method.
W 7 Improved Euler and Runge-Kutta.
W 8 Equilibria.
W 9 Bifurcations.
W 10 Air resistance models.
W 11 Linear systems of equations.
W 12 RREF and intro to matrix multiplication.
W 13 Matrix inversion and elementary matrices.
W 14 Determinants.
W 15 More determinants.
W 16 Curve Fitting.
W 17 Vector subspaces.
W 18 Linear dependence.
W 19 Bases for solution spaces.
W 20 The Wronskian.
W 21 Second order constant coefficient ODEs, part 1.
W 22 Second order constant coefficient ODEs, part 2.
W 23 Review: numerical methods, linear and separable ODEs.
Review Linear modeling, equilibria and phase diagrams.
W 24 Nonhomogeneous ODEs I.
W 25 Nonhomogeneous ODEs II.
W 26 Rewriting higher order ODEs, application.
W 27 Eigenvectors and eigenvalues.
W 28 Complex eigenstuff.
W 29 First order systems.
W 30 Oscillating first order systems.
W 31 Mass-spring systems.
W 32 Three tank problem.
W 33 Linear algebra review.
Review, ungraded Midterm 2 review.
Solutions to review problems. Midterm 2 review.
W 34 Laplace Transform.
W 35 IVPs with Laplace Transform.
W 36 Systems with Laplace Transform.
W 37 Periodic Laplace Transforms.
W 38 Linearization around equilibria.
W 39 2x2 systems.
W 40 Lorenz system.
W 41 Hopf bifurcations.
W 42 Population dynamics: wolves and moose.
W 43 Two dimensional systems.
W 44 Review: linear ODEs and numerical methods.
W 45 Review: linear algebra.
W 46 Review: compartment models.
W 45 and 46 Solutions

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 Friday, January 13th).

Assignment 2 (due Friday, January 20th).

Assignment 3 (due Friday, January 27th).

Assignment 4 (due Friday, February 3rd).

Assignment 5 (due Friday, February 10th).

Assignment 6 (due Friday, February 17th).

Assignment 7 (due Monday, February 27th).

Assignment 8 (due Friday, March 17th).

Assignment 9 (due Thursday, March 23rd).

Assignment 10 (due Thursday, April 6th).

Assignment 11 (due Thursday, April 13th).

Assignment 12 (due Wednesday, April 26th).

Labs:

We will use the computer algebra system Sage for our labs. Sage can be accessed through a browser at http://sage2.d.umn.edu:8008/ or Server 2.

The two servers are not synchronized so if you wish to switch, you need to make accounts separately on each, and download/upload your lab.

Lab 1 sage2.d.umn.edu
Lab 1 server 2.


Lab 2, due 2/7:
Lab 2 sage2.d.umn.edu
Lab 2 server 2.


Lab 3, due 2/14:
Lab 3 sage2.d.umn.edu
Lab 3 server 2.


Lab 4, due 2/21:
Lab 4 sage2.d.umn.edu
Lab 4 server 2.


Lab 5, due 2/28:
Lab 5 sage2.d.umn.edu
Lab 5 server 2.


Lab 6, due 3/21:
Lab 6 sage2.d.umn.edu
Lab 6 server 2.


Lab 7, due 4/4:
Lab 7 sage2.d.umn.edu
Lab 7 server 2.


Lab 8, Optional extra credit, due 4/25:
Lab 8 sage2.d.umn.edu

Lab 9, due 4/25
Lab 9 sage2.d.umn.edu

Sage can also be used on a "cloud" version: https://cloud.sagemath.com., although you will have to upload the labs.

Accessing the sage.d.umn.edu server can be done from off-campus if you install the university's VPN connection software.
It may be helpful to read this introduction, written by professor Gregory Bard of UW Stout. There is also another interesting book on Sage which is currently under development.

Other resources:

Highly Recommended!:The Essence of Linear Algebra, an excellent set of videos by Grant Sanderson (3Blue1Brown).

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. A good interactive tutorial on the basics of the Python language.

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.